Firms to Pay $2.4 Million in Fatal Crane Accident

Two companies involved in a September accident at Edwards Air Force Base in which a technician was killed when a rocket motor dropped from a crane and burst into flames have agreed to a $2.4-million settlement with the dead man’s family. Utah-based Hercules Inc., manufacturer of the Titan 4 rocket motor, and Lampson Inc. of Oregon, the crane operator, will pay about $2.1 million to Jessie Quimby, the wife of technician Alan Quimby, according to the woman’s lawyer, William F. Gamble of Santa Maria.

Hercules and Lampson will also pay $260,000 to Quimby’s infant daughter, Signe Marie Quimby, plus legal fees.

Quimby was killed Sept. 7 by falling cement counterweights on a giant crane that was removing the rocket motor from an outdoor test stand.