BLOOMINGTON - A judge has ordered that attorneys for a Topeka man killed in crane accident in Normal last week be given access to the area where the mishap occurred. The family of Joshua Dawe has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Johnston Contractors Inc. in the July 23 death of the 33-year-old ironworker.

Dawe was employed by Rockford-based Area Erectors at the Wildwood Industries construction project on Normal's north side.

Johnston Contractors was responsible for coordinating and inspecting work at the site. Dawe was in the basket of an aerial lift when a crane's boom collapsed onto the basket, according to the lawsuit. Dawe's estate is seeking more than $50,000 in damages.

Joshua Dawe

McLean County Associate Judge Scott Drazewski granted a request from the family's counsel for access to the work area and equipment involved in the accident. The site viewing was necessary to take photos of the accident scene and inspect equipment involved in the accident, according to the lawsuit filed on behalf of the estate of Dawe's infant daughter.

Attorneys for the family have until Aug. 5 to inspect the site. Work may continue in other areas of the project.

The crane may not be moved to a storage facility in Rochelle until after Aug. 5 unless attorneys are notified, the judge ordered.

Drazewski also issued an order to investigators with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration preventing them from altering, repairing or performing destructive testing of the crane and a 4-foot boom cable.

In court documents filed by attorneys for Johnston Contractors, the company argued that it did not own, operate or maintain the crane or aerial lift.

A case management conference in the lawsuit is scheduled for Nov. 7.