By Rebecca Vallett
A cement pumper crashed between the Talmage Building and the Jesse Knight Humanities Building at 9:02 a.m., Fri., Feb. 1, narrowly missing a student and spilling toxic chemicals onto BYU campus.
No one was injured in the collapse.
Robert Eyre of the BYU Police Department said the pumper”s fuel tank was crushed when it fell, releasing hydraulic fluid and diesel fuel, both toxic and flammable chemicals.
“If there was any fire or flame there could be ignition, and it could catch on fire,” Eyre said. “After that it could leach into the soil and contaminate it.”
The fire department will remove the contaminated soil after the spill is contained.
Larry Hartlerode was operating the crane adjacent to the cement pumper and heard warning shouts as it began to tip.
The pumper, which resembles a crane, tipped over because outriggers were not fully extended and became off balanced when the boom swung far to one side, Hartlerode said.
“The first thing that crossed my mind was the kids,” Hartlerode said. “We were lucky we just missed class break.”
Acting Batallion Chief, Tom Augustus, said the spill would not take long to contain.
“Only at BYU can a crane crash between two buildings and no one gets injured,” Augustus said.
