Two fatalities in partial collapse of a Radio Tower

Tippecanoe County sheriff's department officials are now on the scene of a possible fatal accident near Colburn.

Details are sketchy at this time but the accident is believed to be related to a collapse, or partial collapse, of a tower

The accident scene is near 600 North and 900 East.

No other information was immediately available.

The Tower was being built for local radio station WKHY FM.

Accident at WXXB radio tower kills two

BUCK CREEK, Ind. (WLFI) - Two are dead after an accident at a radio tower near Buck Creek, according to Tippecanoe County Deputy Coroner Tony Kenner.

Kenner said the victims were part of a crew working on the tower, located near County Road North 900 East and East 600 North. Kenner could not say where the crew was from, but said they were not from Lafayette. Names have not yet been released.

The tower in question was a WXXB radio tower, according to WXXB chief engineer Steve Truex. WXXB, also known as B102-9, is a local FM radio station which focuses on playing recent hits. WXXB is one of five Lafayette stations owned by Schurz Communications. The others are WASK AM & FM, WKHY, and WKOA.

The Occupational Safety & Health Administration, OSHA, was on the scene of the accident.

The tower is still unstable, and the road near the tower is closed.

NewsChannel 18 will continue to provide updates throughout the day.

Thanks Chris for the Update. WTHR Channel 13 also had it with a video package at 12:30PM Weds 4-13-2011during the Newscast and it was "Breaking News"

Detailed article on Lafayette Journal-Courier's web site:

Names released of workers killed in radio tower fall (update) | Journal and Courier | jconline.com

the 911 is here

Sad, even made me shed tears.
911 call reveals clues in fatal tower incident

10:56 PM, Apr. 23, 2011


911 call reveals clues in fatal tower incident | Journal and Courier | jconline.com

Tippecanoe County Radio Tower Collapse - April 13 - Final Report

The Indiana Occupational Health and Safety Administration has concluded their investigation of the tower construction accident that occurred on April 13, 2011 in Tippecanoe County, claiming the lives of two riggers. The site was shut down for 4 months for the investigation. (Construction resumed there last month.) Fines totalling $91,500 have been issued for alleged violations.

Some of the issues the investigation discovered were:
- the gin pole was being ridden up the tower as it was being raised
- non-OSHA approved equipment was being used extensively on-site
- adequate fall protection equipment was not provided
- makeshift devices for hoisting personnel were being used
- hoisting equipment had not been marked with its capacity rating, or tested
- 100% tie-off to the tower was not being done

More details about the IOSHA findings can be seen here:
Wireless Estimator - ERI Cited By IOSHA