Originally published Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Crane collapses in Bellevue
A large crane and pile-driving rig collapsed across two lakefront properties Monday in Bellevue. There were no injuries.
Seattle Times staff reporter
A large crane and pile-driving rig collapsed across two lakefront properties Monday in Bellevue, sending the driver scrambling for safety and frightening neighbors.
Patrick Foulon, who lives on Lake Washington a few houses from the accident in the 70 block of Cascade Key in the Newport Shores neighborhood, said his family was about to take a spin in its boat at about 2 p.m. when his mom gasped, and said "Oh my god."
They looked up and saw the rig, which he estimated at 80 feet tall and which towered above trees and homes, swaying from side to side. Then it fell, he said, landing with a sound like two trains crashing.
Foulon said workers had been demolishing a house and doing some construction on the site over the past few days.
Workers on the site said the pile-driving rig, which was mounted on tank-style tracks, had begun to sink in soft soil. The driver had stayed aboard to swivel the rig away from any houses or people before jumping clear as it toppled, they said.
Bruce McDowell, vice president of pile-driving equipment supplier McDowell Northwest, said the workers' story sounded "about right" but declined to elaborate.
"At this time we are doing everything we can to get the crane righted," he said. "There are no injuries at the job site. I'd rather not get into any more detail."
Officer Greg Grannis, a spokesman with the Bellevue Police Department, said that because there had been no 911 calls or injuries as a result of the accident — and because it happened on private property — there was no call for police involvement at this time.
Crane safety has become a hot-button issue after a series of recent accidents across the country.
Less than two weeks ago, a 30-story crane collapsed at a Houston oil refinery, killing four workers.
In Bellevue, a 210-foot tower crane collapsed November 2006, killing 31-year-old Microsoft attorney Matthew Ammon, who was in his apartment at the time. Flawed engineering at the crane's base was blamed in that accident.
Seattle Times news researcher Gene Balk, Seattle Times photographer Greg Gilbert and Seattle Times reporter Jennifer Sullivan contributed to this report. Nick Perry: 206-515-5639 or nperry@seattletimes.com
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
Jerry Large: Issues of aging affect all
Seattle-area homebuilder losing projects to foreclosure
Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
NEW - 10:28 AM
Court rules partial fence not enough for burglary
Health-plan costs soar for individuals

Gen. David Petraeus: Iraq and Afghanistan Wars
Watch highlights of General David Petraeus discussing the Iraq and Afghanistan War at the Global Leadership Series sponsored by the World Affairs Council.
Entertainment | Top Video | World | Offbeat Video | Sci-Tech
nwjobs

Post a comment

Michelle Goodman blogs about work/life balance.
Tax tips for new independent professionals
Post a comment
nwautos

Choosing a new SUV? Weigh the impact your choice will have on your wallet and on the planet.
Post a comment
nwhomes

Find a new home or condo that fits your lifestyle.
Search New Developments
Builder Directory
- Key lawmakers warn of Boeing no-strike ultimatum
- Hemmed-in Ballard house to rise above
- UW Football | Tailbacks David Freeman, Brandon Johnson ineligible
- US officials eye North Korea in cyber attack
- Nickels gives City Light chief $40,000 bonus
- Coffee City | New "sexpresso" stand coming to Ballard
- Drunken man shocks Spain with his generosity
- Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
- Health-plan costs soar for individuals
- Concert review | "Idol" Top 10 give fans a fun, fresh show
- Mass. files lawsuit against federal marriage law
891 - Key lawmakers warn of Boeing no-strike ultimatum
595 - Palin's lawyer: no legal troubles driving her out
276 - Health-plan costs soar for individuals
227 - Mariners game thread, July 8
186 - Judges strike broad ban on Washington's Plan B rules
157 - Teen charged in pit bull attacks ordered held after pleading not guilty
131 - Sheriff's Office: Man not armed when fatally shot by deputy
111 - Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
62 - Wakamatsu keeping the faith
47
- Hemmed-in Ballard house to rise above
- Key lawmakers warn of Boeing no-strike ultimatum
- Seattle-area homebuilder losing projects to foreclosure
- Health-plan costs soar for individuals
- Rick Steves' Europe | Beware of new and classic travel scams
- Happy Hour | Ruth's Chris has super rib-eye sliders and quality cocktails
- All You Can Eat | "Top Chef": Seattle chefs tapped for Bravo knife fight in Vegas!
- All You Can Eat | Oceanaire files bankruptcy, shutters Seattle, former chefs weigh in
- Trees vs. houses: Narrow, leafy street is last chance for two Madrona homes waiting to be moved
- Nickels gives City Light chief $40,000 bonus





