A boom lift involved in an accident that resulted in no injuries sits in place at a construction site at Kaiser Permanente on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

A boom lift involved in an accident that resulted in no injuries sits in place at a construction site at Kaiser Permanente on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Worker rescued from Everett boom lift accident

Firefighters responded with a ladder truck, but by the time they were in place, another lift was bringing the worker to safety.

EVERETT — A worker in a cherry-picker bucket was rescued after a lift partly tipped over Wednesday at a construction site in north Everett.

Photos showed a Genie boom lift that folded awkwardly at the base around 1:30 p.m., while its bucket was three or four stories in the air near the Kaiser Permanente Everett Medical Center at 2930 Maple St.

Eric Stover, a witness, arrived on the scene shortly after the accident. Stover said the worker had been strapped into the lift, but all the tools aboard looked to have been flung onto the floor of the site.

“It was like a slingshot,” Stover said.

Everett firefighters responded to the scene of a partially tipped over Genie boom lift on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Photo courtesy Doug Waterman)

Everett firefighters responded to the scene of a partially tipped over Genie boom lift on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Photo courtesy Doug Waterman)

Doug Waterman, owner of Doug’s Towing, was driving east in a tow truck on Pacific Avenue around 1:30 p.m. when an Everett Fire Department ladder truck passed him with emergency lights flashing.

Once he spotted the lift accident, he parked his truck and ran back to the scene. When he arrived, Waterman could see one man motionless on the floor of the bucket, at almost a 45-degree angle.

“I was hoping he was OK,” Waterman said. “Not moving at first. I was scared for him.”

Waterman watched another lift move upward to the trapped worker. Just as the fire department’s ladder truck moved into position, the trapped worker was able to transfer to another lift.

“He went from the one bucket to the other,” Waterman said.

There were no serious injuries, according to the fire department.

The road was expected to be closed for “the next couple of hours while the accident is investigated,” the fire department tweeted.

Maya Tizon: 425-339-3434; mayatizon@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @mayatizon.

Talk to us

More in Local News

News logo for use with stories about Mill Creek in Snohomish County, WA.
Mill Creek house fire leaves 1 dead

The fire was contained to a garage in the 15300 block of 25th Drive SE. A person was found dead inside.

Firefighters respond to a house fire Wednesday morning in the 3400 block of Broadway. (Everett Fire Department)
3 hospitalized in critical condition after Everett house fire

Firefighters rescued two people, one of whom uses a wheelchair, from the burning home in the 3400 block of Broadway.

The Walmart Store on 11400 Highway 99 on March 21, 2023 in in Everett, Washington. The retail giant will close the store on April 21, 2023. (Janice Podsada / The Herald)
Walmart announces Everett store on Highway 99 will close on April 21

The Arkansas-based retail giant said the 20-year-old Walmart location was “underperforming financially.”

Michael Tolley (Northshore School District)
Michael Tolley named new Northshore School District leader

Tolley, interim superintendent since last summer, is expected to inherit the position permanently in July.

Logo for news use, for stories regarding Washington state government — Olympia, the Legislature and state agencies. No caption necessary. 20220331
New forecast show state revenues won’t be quite as robust as expected

Democratic budget writers say they will be cautious but able to fund their priorities. Senate put out a capital budget Monday.

Everett Memorial Stadium and Funko Field on Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2020 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Drive to build new AquaSox ballpark gets $7.4M boost from state

The proposed Senate capital budget contains critical seed money for the city-led project likely to get matched by the House.

Angelica Montanari and daughter Makena, 1, outside of the Community Health Center of Snohomish County Everett-Central Clinic on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Providers at Community Health Center of Snohomish County vote to form a union

Providers expressed hope for improving patient care and making their voices heard with management.

NO CAPTION NECESSARY: Logo for the Cornfield Report by Jerry Cornfield. 20200112
A thumbs up for capital gains, kind words for the Senate budget

It’s Day 75. Here’s what’s happening in the 2023 session of the Washington Legislature

Logo for news use, for stories regarding Washington state government — Olympia, the Legislature and state agencies. No caption necessary. 20220331
Supreme Court rules state’s new capital gains tax is legal

The 7-2 ruling clears the way for collection of payments starting next month. The tax is expected to bring in $500 million a year.

Most Read