135,000-Pound Excavator Pulled from Garage Collapse

A massive recovery operation unfolded in Washington, Pennsylvania, after a 135,000-pound excavator fell 15 feet through a parking garage at a demolition site. The incident left the machine on its side in a deep hole, requiring specialized heavy-duty equipment to complete the recovery.

Bill’s Towing and Recovery responded with two powerful machines: a Century M100 rotator tow truck—widely regarded as the largest of its kind—and a John Deere 470RR, a unit designed for lifting derailed train cars. Working together, the crews carefully planned and executed the complex operation.

Before lifting began, crews stabilized the excavator by filling in the ground beneath its tracks and conducted multiple safety meetings. The M100 helped guide the lift while the 470RR provided the primary pulling force. After an initial challenge, operators adjusted their approach by restarting the excavator and repositioning its boom, allowing it to shift into a better position.

The excavator was eventually pulled free with combined mechanical force and its own power. The operator escaped injury and was medically cleared at the scene. Source: https://www.thedrive.com