Worker killed as truck hits lift basket on freeway overpass

Jace Radke

Thursday, July 26, 2001 | 10:41 a.m.

As James Cox and his daughter exited U.S. 95 onto westbound Lake Mead Boulevard Wednesday night, the sight of a Toys R Us tractor-trailer on the off-ramp ahead of them prompted a conversation about toys.

As they made their way over the Lake Mead overpass, all thoughts of toys stopped as the tractor-trailer hit the basket on a lift being used by two workmen.

"I saw it hit the basket, and the men fell out and down to the ground," Cox said. "I called 911 and went up to see if I could help, but one looked like he didn't make it, and I didn't want to expose my daughter to that. It was horrifying."

The accident happened about 9:45 p.m. as the work crew installed a new lighting system on the overhead sign marking the entrance to the southbound U.S. 95 on-ramp from westbound Lake Mead. One of the workers died at the scene and another was taken to University Medical Center with various injuries, including a broken leg.

"It looked like they fell about 20 feet, and the truck was probably going about 25 mph," Cox said.

A road work crew had placed orange construction barrels with fluorescent striping along the far right lane of Lake Mead on the overpass to allow for the work, Nevada Highway Patrol Sgt. Mike Branch said.

"The truck was traveling in the middle, number two, lane on Lake Mead and did not hit any of the barrels or go into the number one lane that was blocked off for the work," Branch said.

Investigators were looking into whether or not the cherry-picker lift was extended into the middle lane when the collision occurred.

The driver of the truck was not injured in the accident, and the NHP is investigating.