Editor’s note: Portland Fire & Rescue initially reported a construction crane fell and has since clarified it was a rotary drilling machine. This article has been updated to reflect that clarification.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — One person was injured during a construction equipment collapse in Southwest Portland on Friday morning.
According to Portland Fire & Rescue, a rotary drilling machine weighing approximately 100,000 pounds toppled over at 545 Southwest Campus Drive — the location of OHSU — around 11 a.m.
The machine’s operator was pinned within the cab and PF&R’s tactical rescue crews were working to extricate them by 11:21 a.m.
PF&R says the operator’s coworkers helped by placing a jack under the cab before fire crews got there, allowing firefighters to quickly lift the cab up and lift it off the operator. The Tactical Rescue Team then had to support the cab with cribbing, ensuring it wouldn’t shift on the soft earth underneath. They say this was necessary to prevent any further injury to both the operator and firefighters.
In under 15 minutes from their arrival, crews were able to fully remove the operator from the cab. who was then transported to a trauma center with what are described as serious injuries.
Officials have not disclosed what led to the machine tipping over.
This is a developing story.