Apr 26, 2005

Lee County Department of Transportation
1500 Monroe Street
Fort Myer, Florida 33901

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: 

Kris Cella
Cella & Associates, Inc.
2125 First Street Suite 201
Fort Myers, Florida 33901
239-872-9447

Fort Myers, FL (April 26, 2005) - The Sanibel Causeway crane accident occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Monday, April 25, 2005 south of the drawbridge in the vicinity of the toll plaza. The crane, a Manitowoc 4100, was engaged in securing a concrete piling and was readying the piling to continue the pile driving operation. Two cranes were operating in the vicinity of drawbridge, lifting and driving piles on land. One crane was stationed on land and the crane involved with the accident was stationed on a barge next to the recently constructed steel sheet pile serving as a temporary sea wall.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Coast Guard are conducting a joint investigation of the accident, as is Boh Brothers to do everything possible to incident that this incident will not occur again. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began their investigation today. They have a multi-step investigative process that includes the data collection phase, field investigations and report preparation. The investigation may take up to six months to complete.

The accident may delay this phase of the project for approximately one month. Boh Brothers will begin dismantling the crane upon completion of field investigations which could occur in the next week. Additional cranes are on site that will allow project work to continue in the near future. As the project team will make every effort to ensure the safety of it's workers and the traveling public.

Boh Brothers' number one priority is the health, safety and welfare of its workers and the public. The project team is concentrating on their team members that have been greatly affected by this tragedy. Red Cross counselors are currently on site working with project crew members. The safety program on the Sanibel project far exceeds a typical safety program for a highway project.

Boh Brothers has issued the following statement.
April 26, 2005
Boh Bros Construction Co., LLC

STATEMENT
We are deeply saddened and concerned over the tragic incident that occurred yesterday on the Sanibel Causeway Bridge which claimed the life of one heroic Boh Bros. employee and injured another. Our deepest sympathy and prayers go out to the families of the most valued individuals.
At this time the cause of the incident is unknown; but we are actively investigating the cause and will do everything possible to find out exactly what happened.

There is no higher priority to us than the safety of our employees and to all others in the proximity to our jobsites. Boh Bros. has won numerous industry awards for its achievements in safety, and there had been no employee injuries on this project before yesterday's tragedy.
As more information becomes known, we will make it available.

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