Highway Department Lift Collapse

Under Investigation

By John Voket

First Selectman Pat Llodra reported this week that a town Public Works pickup truck sustained some “repairable” damage after it became wedged in a hydraulic lift that may have failed. The vehicle was left suspended about six feet off the ground in the local Public Works garage when town crews left last Friday, June 17, because the vehicle was awaiting maintenance that was reportedly scheduled to begin on Monday, June 20.

The Ford pickup sustained damage when one side of the mechanical lift in the local maintenance garage apparently failed, wedging the tilting truck in the device. A heavy-duty wrecker was required to remove the pickup from its precarious perch using a cradle device. The incident is currently under investigation, and both the truck and lift were being evaluated at press time to ascertain the extent and costs for respective repairs.

Mrs Llodra was informed of the incident after Public Works Director Fred Hurley arrived at the town garage Monday morning to see a heavy-duty tow truck with its carrying boom extended into one of the bays. Once the vehicle was removed, Mr Hurley then initiated an investigation into the incident, the first selectman said.

“The truck was being readied for service and apparently one side of the lift lost its carrying capacity and the truck fell,” Mrs Llodra said. “Right now were investigating both the potential for mechanical failure or possibly human error that contributed to the accident.”

Mrs Llodra said she expected the final report “in a few days.”

The first selectman said she heard of a rumor that a call was made over the weekend by a town worker to a supervisor noting the appearance that the lift was askew, but she had no evidence such a preemptive contact occurred.

“If a call was made and no action was taken, we’ll have to consider that person as contributing to the severity of the incident,” Mrs Llodra said. “But at this point, we have not confirmed that there was such a call.”