1 injured after incident at Bainbridge terminal project

BAINBRIDGE ISLAND – One person was injured after a piece of equipment being used to unload the large walkway spans that are being installed at Bainbridge Island ferry terminal failed on Friday, officials said.

The person – who Washington State Ferries said was a contractor working on the construction project at the terminal – was flown to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle in critical condition after being struck by one of the walkway sections when a load shifted, Bainbridge Island Fire Department Chief Jared Moravec said. The person suffered a head injury and was stabilized, placed on a stretcher and moved to an Airlift Northwest helicopter, which landed in the vehicle holding lanes at the terminal.

The incident was reported shortly after noon on Friday.

Washington State Ferries spokesperson Diane Rhodes said that the four large walkway spans that are being installed at the terminal arrived Friday morning by barge and as the first of the spans was being moved onto land, a hydraulic-powered dolly being used in the transfer apparently lost power and dropped the span. Rhodes said the contractor who was hurt was alert following the incident.

Rhodes said the site had a safety stand-down and said that another crane was being brought in to help with the work.

A total of four bridge spans weighing 114 tons and extending out 339 feet are being set into place at the Bainbridge terminal, according to the agency. WSF closed the Bainbridge Island-Seattle route to vehicle traffic starting on Thursday to make space for crews to install the new lengths of passenger walkway at the terminal. The closure is expected to run into the early morning hours of Sept. 13.