The two people who survived a fatal construction accident at a Sullivan County bridge replacement project remained hospitalized Thursday.
Jessis Dominguez, of Rogersville, Tenn., was listed in fair condition Thursday at the Holston Valley Medical Center in Kingsport.
Maria Lima, of Morristown, Tenn., was listed in serious condition in the intensive care unit at Johnson City Medical Center.
Dominguez, Lima and Frangel Garcia were building a steel bridge pylon frame at the state Route 75 bridge replacement project Wednesday when the structure collapsed, sending all three into the South Fork of the Holston River.
Construction workers on the job site were able to pull Lima and Dominguez from the river and get them medical attention.
An ambulance took Dominguez to the Holston Valley Medical Center. A Wings Air Rescue helicopter took Lima to the Johnson City Medical Center.
Construction workers could not save Garcia, also of Morristown. County rescue divers found his body near the collapsed column about an hour after the accident.
All three worked for Simpson Construction Co. in Cleveland, Tenn. The company’s compliance officer, Ron Higgins, said Wednesday that his company’s initial investigation shows the steel frame collapsed after a cable holding the structure in place snapped.
Simpson will continue to investigate the accident along with the Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Higgins said all three victims were using their safety equipment, but Garcia detached his line when the steel toppled so he could jump in the river to safety.
gmclean@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2518
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