MARYSVILLE, Wash. — A contract worker for the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) was hospitalized after falling 60 feet off a bridge into water near Marysville on Tuesday evening.
Just before 7 p.m., Everett and Marysville firefighters, along with local police, responded to northbound Interstate 5 at milepost 198. Two workers were working under I-5 when the bucket they were in tipped over.
One worker fell approximately 60 feet into the water below. The second worker, who was not injured, was able to stay inside the bucket and climbed onto land, according to the Everett Fire Department.
The worker who fell in the water swam to shore and was evaluated by medics, then transported to a local hospital for further treatment.
The contractors were working on a project for traffic improvements in the area of I-5 northbound Marine View Drive to state Route 529. The project, expected to be finished in 2025, includes a new peak-use shoulder lane for traffic, a northbound ramp from I-5 to SR 529 and a ramp from SR 529 to southbound I-5.
WSDOT is investigating to determine what caused the incident, the agency said.
Traffic along I-5 was backed up as emergency responders blocked lanes over the bridge in order to assist the workers and retrieve the equipment they were in at the time.