Man dies after boom lift is struck by bus

A 56-year-old man was killed Feb. 11 when a bus struck the boom lift he was operating, causing him to fall 11 feet.

The man, who has not been identified, was unloading a 120-foot boom lift off a flatbed truck near a construction site in downtown Los Angeles when a Metropolitan Transit Authority bus struck the boom, which was extended over a lane on westbound Venice Boulevard, reports state. The engine portion of the boom was on Wright Street. The accident occurred at 3: 25 a.m.

The man, who was not using personal fall protection, a harness or lanyard, in the basket, suffered severe head trauma when he fell. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital at 7:07 a.m., according to police.

Neither the driver nor a passenger on the bus saw the lift until it was too late, police said. Speed was also not a factor in the incident.

“Another worker who should go home at the end of the day to his family will never again,” said Tony Groat, IPAF North American manager and AWPT executive vice president. “Is this a training issue? Is this an awareness issue? Is this a technology issue (don’t let the lift move if the harness is not connected)? A compliance issue (trained but did not follow required safe-use practices)?”

Anyone with information is asked to contact LAPD Central Traffic Division Detective s at (213) 833-3713, or Detective F. Padilla at (213) 486-0753. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.