posted May 16, 2008
A construction worker was killed as he worked on a scaffold above I-24 shortly after noon on Friday, city police said.
The victim and another worker were working on a paint crew when a tractor trailer truck traveling on I-24 became entangled in part of their equipment.
The second worker was seriously injured in the incident and was taken to Erlanger Hospital in critical condition.
In the incident at approximately 12:30 p.m., a five-man bridge painting crew from Seminole Equipment, a contractor from Tarpon Springs, Fla., was working on the South Crest Bridge over I-24 working to remove a containment system from beneath the bridge. The man who was killed was on top and the other four were under or on the side of the bridge.
This system utilizes cables, and somehow a cable from the system got caught on the top of a truck that was traveling westbound on the interstate below. This caused the cable to be pulled so tightly that it snapped.
The cable also damaged a TDOT SmartWay camera pole in the area, putting the camera out of service.
The contractor is currently working for TDOT on a bridge painting project to repaint three bridges (Old Ringgold Road, South Crest Road and South Seminole Road) over I-24 in Hamilton County.
TDOT officials said, "We extend our thoughts and deepest sympathies to the family of the worker who lost his life today and to everyone affected by today's tragedy. This unfortunate incident illustrates the dangers that our men and women face each day as they work on the highways of this country."
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