Feb. 11--One construction worker was buried under collapsed scaffolding and three others were left dangling in the air for about two hours under an Interstate 95 bridge in Fort Lauderdale, fire rescue officials said.
All four were taken to Broward Health Medical Center as a precaution. Their conditions were unknown late Monday, said Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Division Chief Robert Bacic.
The men were part of a crew working under the southbound lanes that span the New River between State Road 84 and Davie Boulevard. The collapse was reported around 3:30 p.m. Monday near the 2000 block of Southwest 21st Avenue, according to Bacic.
"We were able to extricate one from the rubble of the scaffolding," he said. "There were three others suspended from safety lines about 60 to 70 feet in the air."
Two of the workers were brought down with an extended bucket truck, but "because of the location, over the water, of the third victim we had to get a Technical Rescue Team involved," Bacic said.
The team lowered a firefighter on a harness, who attached himself to the last dangling worker. Both were lowered to the ground by 5:15 p.m., Bacic said.
Firefighters had to deal with something unforeseen.
"As the Tri-Rail train would go by on the train bridge, it would cause vibrations," Bacic said. "Even as the cars would [drive] by, the scaffolding we were working on was shaking."
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