Witness recounts Turner County Courthouse rescue

PARKER, S.D. (KELO) — The second day of demolition of the Turner County Courthouse took a frightening turn. The massive excavator tipped over, trapping the operator inside.

The Turner County Courthouse has been a prominent piece of Parker for over 120 years, so as crews got back to work today, people in town gathered to watch and were surprised by what they saw.

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As the Turner County Treasurer, Julie Hartmann spent a lot of time inside the old courthouse. Around 10 a.m., she was watching as the excavator tipped.

“It was tearing down the highest point on the west side, and it just ka-boom came down. It slowly started to turn, and it just tipped,” Hartmann said.

Journey Construction is overseeing the project. In a statement, Journey says when the excavator tipped, it was pinned against an interior wall.

“Just terrified for the man inside that cab,” Hartmann said.

Despite the demolition taking a scary turn of events here Tuesday, the driver was able to get out, and he is unharmed.”

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“That was the most important part. I mean, the building is one thing. The man is another,” Hartmann said.

With its size and the structural issues that led to the demolition in the first place, Hartmann hopes crews prioritize safety and the rest of the demolition goes well.

“That building has so many skeletons in it that if it can’t be saved, it just can’t be saved. Just safety of the people. It’s time to put safety first,” Hartmann said.

A spokesperson with Journey Construction tells us that OSHA will likely get involved in the investigation.

Journey also says company leaders will evaluate the site and decide when it’s time to resume the demolition.