Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 29, 1994 TAG: 9404290152
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: SOUTH BOSTON LENGTH: Short
State police identified the dead man as James Clifford Kerr of Monroe. He died when the 350-by-150-foot frame collapsed Wednesday afternoon.
About nine men were working on top of the 40-foot-tall structure when a storm approached. Witnesses said there was not enough time for all the men to get off the structure at the J.M. Huber Wood Products plant.
``I don't think anyone actually saw it [collapse]. A dust storm came with it,'' said Steve Love, who was working nearby. ``We just heard it.
``A lot of people thought it was a jet engine going over - all you could hear was the steel on top sliding forward.''
Inspectors from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration were on the scene, along with state police.
Halifax Regional Hospital officials said Kerr was dead on arrival. Hospital officials said five of the injured were treated and released, while a sixth was admitted for observation.
Larry Theriault, Huber's safety manager, said he had inspected the building Tuesday, and ``it was all braced and tied down according to specifications.''
Plant manager Dick York said the building's frame was in place and rigid when the storm hit.
``It had to have been tornado-force winds. [The building] was braced and wired. It was all bolted down,'' he said.
Heavy rains, high winds and lightning were reported. The National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the area.
Keywords:
FATALITY
by CNB