T-REX Crane Operator To Be Charged
3 Victims Taken To Denver Health
UPDATED: 12:46 p.m. MST April 4, 2002
DENVER -- A busy commuter interstate reopened early
Thursday, several hours after three people were injured when a
construction crane tipped over and crushed two cars.
Police spokesman John White said the crane operator, Scott
Bonacci of Erie, "is under investigation and charges are
pending."
Two victims were in fair condition at Denver Health Medical
Center. White identified one of them as Pierre Andre Threet of
Lakewood. The other person was not identified.
Shari Shiffer, 44, of Northglenn, who was taken to the hospital
for minor injuries, was released Thursday morning, said hospital
spokeswoman Johanna Ladis.
The crane operator escaped injury.
The crash happened around 9:30 Wednesday night, marking the first major disaster for the T-REX project.
The 70-foot crane was moving a concrete barrier when it suddenly toppled over onto the interstate, covering all three lanes and crushing two cars.
It took several hours for crews to lift the 38-ton crane off the interstate, which created a long and frustrating wait for motorists stuck behind the crash scene, 7NEWS reported.
I-25 northbound was shut for nearly four hours, according to the station.
Rescuers had to cut off the roof of one car to remove two victims. The driver of the other car was able to get out through her car door.
Rescue workers said that it was fortunate that more people were not injured or killed, considering the heavy traffic that usually flows on I-25.
The crane was preparing to move concrete barriers in the median for Thursday night's lane shift when it tipped over. T-REX officials said that the lane shift will continue as planned at 8:30 p.m.
Investigators are also still trying to figure out how the crane fell over. The crane operator was not hurt.
T-REX is a six-year $1.67 billion project that will widen I-25 and add light rail along a 19-mile corridor.
This is the first injury accident on the project sinced it launched in October, T-REX officials said.
The crane is independently owned and operated by "Absolute Crane Service" of Denver.
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Police spokesman John White said the crane operator, Scott
Bonacci of Erie, "is under investigation and charges are
pending."
Two victims were in fair condition at Denver Health Medical
Center. White identified one of them as Pierre Andre Threet of
Lakewood. The other person was not identified.
Shari Shiffer, 44, of Northglenn, who was taken to the hospital
for minor injuries, was released Thursday morning, said hospital
spokeswoman Johanna Ladis.
The crane operator escaped injury.
The crash happened around 9:30 Wednesday night, marking the first major disaster for the T-REX project.
The 70-foot crane was moving a concrete barrier when it suddenly toppled over onto the interstate, covering all three lanes and crushing two cars.
It took several hours for crews to lift the 38-ton crane off the interstate, which created a long and frustrating wait for motorists stuck behind the crash scene, 7NEWS reported.
I-25 northbound was shut for nearly four hours, according to the station.
Rescuers had to cut off the roof of one car to remove two victims. The driver of the other car was able to get out through her car door.
Rescue workers said that it was fortunate that more people were not injured or killed, considering the heavy traffic that usually flows on I-25.
The crane was preparing to move concrete barriers in the median for Thursday night's lane shift when it tipped over. T-REX officials said that the lane shift will continue as planned at 8:30 p.m.
Investigators are also still trying to figure out how the crane fell over. The crane operator was not hurt.
T-REX is a six-year $1.67 billion project that will widen I-25 and add light rail along a 19-mile corridor.
This is the first injury accident on the project sinced it launched in October, T-REX officials said.
The crane is independently owned and operated by "Absolute Crane Service" of Denver.
Additional Resources
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