On July 23, 2002 at approximately 11:00 am I was involved in an accident. I was a consturction manager for a precast concrete company. We were erecrting a building in Las Vegas, Nevada. Earlier in the morning I had noticed that a main structral support beam had been bowing from the weight of the concrete roof panels. The engineer had been called, he had refered to his design and stated the beam was more than effiecient to support the weight. We got a short load of 2 roof panel making the panels erected and being welded into place at 20, we had 4 more panels to place. We broke for lunch while waiting for the last four panels. While under the roof the welding supeervisor and I were inspecting welds and noticed that the beam had bowed to a measurable level. Again the engineer was called and the owner of the precast company, both insured the beam would hold the weight. Each panel weighed approximately 40K pounds. The last four panels arri at the jobsite. To insure proper placement do to comming to the end of the roof I was doing the placing and inspection. We placed panel 21 noticed a slight movement of the roof, placed supports under the beam for what we thought would hold until the entire roof was welded into place. The crane operater swang panel number 22 into place, we placed the panel perfectly with just the proper distance for the last 2 panels. The crane operater was signaled to lower for disconecting the rigging. As soon as the entire weight was applied to the beam the beam twisted and failed sending me 40 feet into the air and obviously to the ground. I remember nothing of what happened. All I can recall is what people have told me. I was in a coma for 14 days. Injuries, 5 skull fractures, 2 discs in neck displaced, five discs in lower back displaced, broken shoulder blade, broken colar bone, all ribs on right side, and punctured lung. Skull fractures required 2 seperate sugeries to repair, lots of plates and screws, blood cot on brain removed was the size of 2 fists together. Destroyed bones in inner ear, requireing 2 surgeries to repair, plastic bones replaced the original. Can hear about half the normal person with aid from hearing aides in both ears. Lots of rehad and therapy. I weighed 220 pounds and from being in construction all my life was in real great shape. Not trying to brag, but yes very nice shape. After the accident I got down to 150 pounds, loss of muscle mass was unbelievable, arms chest legs are about half what they were prior to accident. Currently I weigh in at 185 and have started the process of lifting weights to get the body back. After 38 years and approximately 25 years of construction this will be a long process. Well, that is the story. Karma is a bitch, everything happens for a reason, and life is short so live it!!!!!!!!!

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