A 40-year-old Ohio man was severely injured after his motorized lift was struck by an 18-wheeler truck. The victim, a contracted construction worker, was suspended over Interstate 75's right northbound lane in the lift's bucket when the collision occurred.
Troopers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol said the truck accident happened at around 3:55 a.m. when the semi-truck slammed into the bucket as the victim attempted to move the lift across east across I-75's northbound lanes. The crash caused the worker to fly out of the lift, landing in a grassy area near the roadway's berm. Police say he was not wearing a safety harness when the crash occurred and appeared to be operating the lift from his bucket. According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, the victim was working on a bridge at the time of the accident.
Authorities say the worker sustained severe injuries from the crash, though troopers at the crash site said his wounds did not appear to be life-threatening. Emergency rescue workers transported the victim to a medical facility to receive treatment, where he remained in the Intensive Care Unit at last report. The hospital has declined to release further information regarding his status.
The semi-truck's 49-year-old driver was unhurt following the crash. He does not currently face charges for his role in the accident, as troopers with the Highway Patrol do not believe he was exceeding the speed limit at the time, nor do they believe impairment was a factor in the crash. However, the crash remains under police investigation.
A representative for an Ohio branch of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration said that the agency has not received any detailed information on the accident and has not made plans to launch an investigation.
Source: LimaOhio.com, "Construction worker thrown from lift in Friday morning I-75 accident," Sarah Stemen, Nov. 16, 2012