Parked Truck Saves the Day

ATLANTIC CITY - A parked truck may have saved two window washers from injury Thursday morning. Daniel Rivera and Carlos Osorto were cleaning the Tropicana Casino and Resort windows at about 9:30 a.m. when the lift they were on collapsed, Battalion Chief Michael Mooney said. Two of the four wheels were off the ground, with the boom leaning on the Ultrabrite Power Washing truck. "The vehicle stopped the boom from completely flipping," Mooney said. Osorto was able to jump to the next level - about 15 feet down - and was brought to safety. The Fire Department had to use its Special Operations Unit for a high-angle rescue of Rivera, Mooney said. It took about an hour to harness Rivera and get him down so he could be brought in through a window, Mooney said. While the men were safe in about an hour, it took nearly 5 hours to get the boom down. Iowa Avenue from Pacific Avenue to the Boardwalk was closed as the situation was handled. Representatives from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration were on the scene, Mooney said. An investigation is under way, spokeswoman Leni Fortson confirmed. She did not have any information about Northfield-based Ultrabrite Power Washing. A message left at the company was not returned Thursday evening. Neither of the workers was injured, and both refused medical attention, Mooney said.