2 workers hurt in collapse at new $20M Benton REA headquarters
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Two workers injured Monday after trusses collapsed at West Richland site.
- Leone & Keeble Inc. and Benton REA launched investigation into incident cause.
- New $20M Benton REA campus aims to consolidate operations near customer base.
Two people were injured Monday when roof trusses collapsed at the West Richland construction site of the Benton Rural Electric Association’s new headquarters.
Benton County Fire District 4 confirmed it transported two individuals from the site where Benton REA is constructing its new headquarters and work campus, 2121 Cooperative Way, off Keene Road near the former Tri-City Raceway.
The workers have not been identified and the cause of the accident is not yet known.
Ryan Redmond, chief executive of the rural electric association, said the incident is being investigated by the contractor on the $20 million project, Leone & Keeble Inc. of Spokane.
“We’re in full investigation to make sure we get to the bottom of what happened,” he said.
A project manager for Leone & Keeble said he couldn’t comment because of the investigation. He said it appears the injuries were not significant.
Benton REA and its contractor broke ground in December. The complex will feature an administrative building, warehouse, storage facilities, garage and other work buildings.
The electric and internet utility intends to move from its current headquarters in Prosser next year. Relocating consolidates operations closer to its customers.
At the site Wednesday, a line of prefabricated roof trusses appeared to have tumbled from the building while it was being framed. The affected building is behind the main administration building, where construction is more advanced.
Excavators were still on site, but no workers could be seen in any of the buildings under construction..
The scattered trusses appeared to have been placed on the building, but fell before roofing materials could be installed.
Workplace accidents are investigated by the Washington Department of Labor and Industries, which did not have information available Wednesday on the incident.
Benton REA serves about 12,000 customers.