HAPPY VALLEY, OR (CelebrityAccess) — Two workers were fatally injured in an accident during the teardown of the Pickathon Music festival at Pendarvis Farm in Happy Valley, Oregon.
According to the Willamatte Week, the two workers, arborists with GuildWorks, a Portland-based company that specializes in temporary structures and tents, were killed when a boom lift tipped over.
“There were two people in the basket at the time the cherry picker tipped over,” Capt. Brandon Paxton of Clackamas Fire told Willamatte Week. “Tragically, both people were killed.”
“The arborists had been ascending in a boom lift before climbing further up trees to get to ropes holding up the complex shade installation,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “They were wearing safety equipment and were roped to the boom lift, which was reportedly positioned on an incline.”
In a statement on Friday, a spokesperson for the festival expressed its dismay at the accident and offered condolences to the families of the two workers.
“We are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of two members of the GuildWorks crew during breakdown of this year’s festival. Please join us in offering up prayers and support to their families and friends during this difficult time. All involved in Pickathon are like members of a family to us. We will wrap our collective arms around all affected and share in the grieving process. Please stay connected to Pickathon as we work to provide support to the families,” the statement said.
Now in its 20th year, Pickathon, which featured Phil Lesh & Friends, Nathaniel Rateliff, Lucius, Mandolin Orange, Khurangbin, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band among numerous others, took place from August 2nd through 4th.
