Seven injured in accident

Cargill officials look over the accident scene after a crane fell on a storage facility under construction.

NEW MADRID - Medical helicopters and ambulances sped seven workers away from Cargill Inc. Monday afternoon after an accident at a construction site.

The men were injured at approximately 2:30 p.m. while working on construction of a new grain storage bin at Cargill. A contractor from Cape Girardeau, Industrial Systems, was overseeing the work, Cargill-AgHorizon officials said.

According to New Madrid County Sheriff Terry Stevens, a truck with a crane was moving a beam which was to serve as a support for the roofing across the construction site. He explained the beam became "overbalanced" causing it to knock down scaffolding. The truck then overturned on its side.

Those injured included the truck driver and workers at the construction site.

The sheriff stated the extent of injuries for the seven men ranged from minor cuts to broken limbs. "None of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening," Stevens said.

One of the injured people from Monday's accident at Cargill is loaded into a helicopter.

Call for assistance brought some 25 to 30 emergency personnel and law enforcement officers to the scene. In addition to the Sheriff's Department, there were officers from the New Madrid Police Department, Fire Department and New Madrid County Ambulance District assisting the injured and securing the scene. Three helicopters flew out five injured workers for medical treatment with the other injured persons transferred by ambulance.

David Feider, communications director for Cargill AgHorizons, said today four of the workers were taken to St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau and a fifth was air-lifted to a Memphis Hospital. He added two of the injured were released Monday and another two of the workers were expected to be released today.

Stevens said his officers along with personnel from Cargill began interviewing those at the scene following the accident. Officers remained at the scene overnight, the sheriff said, to ensure the integrity of the evidence as the investigation continues by OSHA and officials from Cargill-AgHorizons.

Paul Thell, farm service group manager with Cargill, said work on the 600-

thousand bushel grain tank began in April. He said the company's concern was for the injured and praised the efforts of workers and emergency response crews who assisted in treatment of the injured.