Man gets only scratches after Cape Girardeau heavy equipment accident

A city worker survived with cuts and scrapes after the machinery he was operating fell into La Croix Creek Tuesday.

Other workers rescued Stacey Beasley from the cab of a skid steer after it rolled down an embankment and into the creek, said Steve Cook, assistant public works director.

He said Beasley was placing rocks and moving dirt under the Southern Expressway bridge. As he tried to turn it, the machinery malfunctioned, rolled several times and landed in the water, Cook said.

"The front of the cab was face down," he said.

Cook said the cab filled with water and the door would not open far enough for Beasley to escape. Another worker, Patrick Swift, took a rock from the embankment and broke the window after hitting it several times, Cook said. Swift and Beasley were taken to the hospital and checked for injuries, he said.

The city rented the skid steer from Erb Equipment, which is evaluating the machinery, he said.

"The equipment was damage but the equipment can be repaired," Cook said.

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

Southern expressway and LaCroix Creek