Excavator tips into hole at Courthouse Square demolition site

WASHINGTON, Pa. — Work at a demo site in Washington County is on hold after an excavator tipped over into a hole on Tuesday morning.

A Washington County 911 supervisor tells Channel 11 that the excavator tipped over on its side in the Courthouse Square demolition site around 9:35 a.m.

We’re told the operator was never trapped. A Washington County spokesperson says the operator was evaluated by medics on scene, but never taken to the hospital.

RAW: Drone 11 over Courthouse Square demolition site after excavator tips into hole

The official says Washington County leaders have “requested a public safety incident report from the general contractor,” including information about the operator and his condition, as well as the company he was employed by.

Images from Drone 11 show the heavy machinery on its side and the massive hole that surrounds it. As of Tuesday afternoon, the excavator hadn’t moved from where it crashed through the floor to the parking garage below.

“I don’t know how you even get something like that out,” Sheena Nelson of Washington questioned.

“It’s unbelievable. I can’t believe it just fell right in there,” Jack Nelson added.

Records show OSHA fined Adamo $180,000 for a deadly collapse accident in 2020. The company was also fined $8,000 following the findings from an inspection in 2016.

“A few inches one way or the other way, we could be having a whole different discussion. Luckily, this gentleman is all right, and everybody will come in, take a look at what’s going on and see what happened,” Mayor Jojo Burgess said.

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