Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 19, 1991 TAG: 9103190289
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Parker T. Hippert, 33, of Webster Road in Blue Ridge and Millard I. Williams, 52, of Bower Road in Roanoke County were taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital by the Life-Guard 10 rescue helicopter.
Hippert, a plant superintendent, underwent surgery and was listed in serious condition in the hospital's intensive care unit. Williams, a mechanic, was listed in stable condition.
Both men suffered broken legs.
Mark Light, deputy chief of Roanoke County Fire and Rescue, said the two men were trying to find a pinhole leak in a 1-inch hydraulic line on the loader when the pressure suddenly dropped to nothing.
"The bucket at that point was a 2 1/2-ton piece of free-falling steel," Light said.
Both men's lower legs were pinned beneath the bucket.
Rob Robson, safety director for the company, said the hydraulic hose on the loader appeared to be intact following the accident. Company officials suspect that a fitting at the end of the hose may have given way.
Insurance investigators were scheduled to examine the equipment today, Robson said.
Other workers at the business rushed to help the men after the bucket had fallen. They got a forklift that was parked outside the shop, hooked a chain to it and pulled the bucket off the men.
While that took about 10 minutes, the men were still conscious.
The accident occurred shortly before 11:30 a.m.
by CNB