Crane operator critically injured in UW construction accident
SEATTLE - A heavy equipment operator suffered life-threatening injuries Saturday when a huge slab of concrete fell at a building demolition project on the University of Washington campus, crushing the cab of a crane and trapping the man inside for nearly two hours.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene, in the 1200 block of North Campus Parkway, at about 8:50 a.m. after receiving a report of a construction accident.
Arriving there, they learned that a 40,000-pound slab of concrete measuring about 15 feet by by 30 feet fell six stories onto the crane as it was working inside an enclosed area at the construction site.
The crane's cab was crushed by the impact and buried in rubble, leaving the operator trapped inside with serious injuries.
Rescue crews used every rescue tool in their inventory to dig through the rubble and extricate the 53-year-old man from the wreckage of the crane, including saws, spreaders, axes and ropes.
Once they confirmed that the man was still alive and breathing, at about 9:30 or 10 a.m., firefighters had to cut off the roof of the cab, take out the front window, remove the seat and lower the man onto a backboard.
By about 10:30 a.m., crews were able to free him from the wreckage and rush him to Harborview Medical Center with injuries to the head and legs. His safety helmet was cracked by the force of the accident.
The crane operator initially was listed in critical condition, with life-threatening injuries. A hospital spokesperson said his condition later was upgraded to serious, but by late Saturday his condition again was listed as critical.
The accident happened at a demolition site where crews have been working there since early July to tear down an old UW residence building known as Lander Hall.
The old hall will be replaced by a new 200,000-square-foot, seven-story residence hall that is expected to be ready in time for the 2013-14 academic year.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene, in the 1200 block of North Campus Parkway, at about 8:50 a.m. after receiving a report of a construction accident.
Arriving there, they learned that a 40,000-pound slab of concrete measuring about 15 feet by by 30 feet fell six stories onto the crane as it was working inside an enclosed area at the construction site.
The crane's cab was crushed by the impact and buried in rubble, leaving the operator trapped inside with serious injuries.
Rescue crews used every rescue tool in their inventory to dig through the rubble and extricate the 53-year-old man from the wreckage of the crane, including saws, spreaders, axes and ropes.
Once they confirmed that the man was still alive and breathing, at about 9:30 or 10 a.m., firefighters had to cut off the roof of the cab, take out the front window, remove the seat and lower the man onto a backboard.
By about 10:30 a.m., crews were able to free him from the wreckage and rush him to Harborview Medical Center with injuries to the head and legs. His safety helmet was cracked by the force of the accident.
The crane operator initially was listed in critical condition, with life-threatening injuries. A hospital spokesperson said his condition later was upgraded to serious, but by late Saturday his condition again was listed as critical.
The accident happened at a demolition site where crews have been working there since early July to tear down an old UW residence building known as Lander Hall.
The old hall will be replaced by a new 200,000-square-foot, seven-story residence hall that is expected to be ready in time for the 2013-14 academic year.
 I know them as one of a few companies in the US that take High Reach work very serious. Not cutting away, pulling and slamming a building to the ground as soon as possible...etc.. I have expected and predicted this. 'But not them...' Our concerns and thoughts are with all involved. Let this again be a lesson. Especially to all those cowboys out there..!!!thoughts and prayers to allTeam High Reach Demolition . comÂ
Oh yeah & kudos to the Seattle Fire Dept - great work under difficult circumstances, you-all!
wow I stood there & watched this demolition a couple of days ago! Â It did look like dangerous work. Â My thoughts & prayers for complete healing go out to this man, & may his loved ones be comforted.
thoughts and prayers for the man and his family.
 @Lori Graff I seen the rest of the comment's, and see you know them now, That makes easier for me, :) On trying to put out the fact that they don't know uncle and he does know how to do his dam job....bless your heart
@ Lori Graff.......Thank you so much, Bless your heart, My uncle been doing this for year's and year's and year's, His dad retired from the same company, There has never been a mistake before, It was a accident , as they happen in life, I don't understand anyway where these ppl think a claim would go, the only one hurt is my uncle, Thank you anyway for giving your respect's on my uncle, We are having a hard time with this as it is... thenthese ppl...GRRRR... I all so would like to say bless his 2 boy's that worked with there dad as well, As they were on the site with him in this accident, It had to be the longest hour or so of there life as the they worked there way to get to get there Dad.....God bless....Holly
It's gonna be a very hard, long recovery, But our uncle ant going any where, he is hanging in there with  us. This man is a heart of gold, he is so very loved, We are with you uncle......Thank you all for your prayer's and wishes....It help's and mean's so much, Love....Cody, Holly, Cal, DevinÂ
Hope the operator is going to be ok. Â Would also wish Komo would educate their reporters. Â Thats not a crane.
Mouths are watering at L&I. They are already working on what they will fine someone for.
Prayers being said....
Gil, Speedy Recovery! Hugs.
Strong work by the Seattle firefighters and firefighter/paramedics who rescued this man.
I smell an L & I claim a comi'n. Somebody did not do their job correctly.
 You know this is not about Money this is about a human being. We can sure see where your mind is. God Be with the Family for a Speedy Recovery.
@egle me too, I am wishing for the best for the victim also
Get better soon! You have a lot of people praying for you quick recovery!
I'm so glad to hear that his condition has been upgraded to serious already. May he continue to recover quickly.
Hang in there uncle (Gil) sonny, We all love you, and are praying for you, I love this whole family, I pray for us all to stay strong for sonny....Love Holly
@Holly Jo Morris Best wishes to your uncle. Please let us know how he is doing as Komo probably won't continue to report on this story.
To My son uncle Gil Olson, Tysen sends his love and support for you to get well soon, Renee I send out my love and support for you all...Randy
God Be with You Gil and Renee and Family.. Be safe and Take care. We are Praying for a speeding Recovery.
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Rick, Lori and Mariah Graff
our son in law Gil Olson is enroute to the hospital at this moment, we are and continue to pray for his complete recovery and thank you all for your prayers, he is a most beloved son in law
@Richard L. Gober Gods speed to you and your family. Be well.
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Poor guy. I'm praying that he has no permanent injuries from this accident.Â
Now that they have posted pictures it is clear to see that this is an excavator or some might call it a track hoe. It is not a backhoe. It irritates me that accuracy is becoming a thing of the past in modern day media.
@Alert Eagle Even with pictures they still get it wrong. Now their calling it a crane.
Only a little over an hour ago, surely they know if he is alive by now...prayers for his survival.
The cabs of a backhoe are made to withstand a lot of pressure and force, but a slab that size has to weigh around 30000lbs, hope they can get him out and he's OK.
Doesn't sound good by the officers comment. Â I will say a prayer and hope that he makes it out alive. Â That is a large piece of concrete and a long fall.
I really, really hope he gets out safe!!!