This happened yesterday near here. She wins the lucky person of the day award.
Dozer runs over woman, breaks her arm
By CAROL CHRISTIAN
Today staff
Monday June 04, 2007
Soft mushy muskeg is being attributed for saving a woman’s life during efforts at battling a massive forest fire south of the Suncor Energy oilsands plant on the weekend.
The woman was driving a quad when she was run over by a bulldozer, according to reports. But because they were on muskeg, the weight of the big machine simply pushed her and the quad into the ground. And much to the surprise of the driver of a Cat dozer following the first one, she popped back up once the machine had moved over her.
“Thank heavens for muskeg,” said Linda Parks, spokesman, with Alberta Occupational Health and Safety. “When you think of the possibilities. … She’s expected to make a full recovery.
The woman suffered a badly broken arm that may require surgery, and damage to one ear.
Because helicopters were already in the area to deal with the wildfire, Park said the woman was quickly airlifted out of the area to the local hospital. She was later transferred to the University of Alberta Hospital.
The accident occurred while the woman, the ‘Cat’ (Caterpillar) boss, was leading three dozers pulling rakes to make fire breaks. After the first one had rounded a bend on the way to the next site, the woman stopped for and the remaining two machines also stopped. The driver immediately behind the woman saw her start to move her quad again and he subsequently started off but she must have stopped again and he didn’t see her, said Park. That may have been because the blades of the bulldozer were elevated so they didn’t get caught in the soft muskeg. That may have blocked the driver’s vision, she explained.
Once the machine passed over the woman she popped up under the rake.
The second driver radioed the first driver who stopped his machine. The pair rushed to the rake, lifting it off the woman.
“There were a couple of horrified people out there,” said Park.
The accident is being investigated by Occupational Health and Safety which had an investigator on site Sunday.
Dozer runs over woman, breaks her arm
By CAROL CHRISTIAN
Today staff
Monday June 04, 2007
Soft mushy muskeg is being attributed for saving a woman’s life during efforts at battling a massive forest fire south of the Suncor Energy oilsands plant on the weekend.
The woman was driving a quad when she was run over by a bulldozer, according to reports. But because they were on muskeg, the weight of the big machine simply pushed her and the quad into the ground. And much to the surprise of the driver of a Cat dozer following the first one, she popped back up once the machine had moved over her.
“Thank heavens for muskeg,” said Linda Parks, spokesman, with Alberta Occupational Health and Safety. “When you think of the possibilities. … She’s expected to make a full recovery.
The woman suffered a badly broken arm that may require surgery, and damage to one ear.
Because helicopters were already in the area to deal with the wildfire, Park said the woman was quickly airlifted out of the area to the local hospital. She was later transferred to the University of Alberta Hospital.
The accident occurred while the woman, the ‘Cat’ (Caterpillar) boss, was leading three dozers pulling rakes to make fire breaks. After the first one had rounded a bend on the way to the next site, the woman stopped for and the remaining two machines also stopped. The driver immediately behind the woman saw her start to move her quad again and he subsequently started off but she must have stopped again and he didn’t see her, said Park. That may have been because the blades of the bulldozer were elevated so they didn’t get caught in the soft muskeg. That may have blocked the driver’s vision, she explained.
Once the machine passed over the woman she popped up under the rake.
The second driver radioed the first driver who stopped his machine. The pair rushed to the rake, lifting it off the woman.
“There were a couple of horrified people out there,” said Park.
The accident is being investigated by Occupational Health and Safety which had an investigator on site Sunday.