No fuel leaked into river from excavator

No fuel leaked when an excavator went into the Coeur d’Alene River near a bridge construction site near Harrison, according to Idaho’s Department of Environmental Quality.

The machine, about 120 tons, was being loaded onto barges Jan. 14 when it went into the river and was submerged in about 15 feet of water, according to a report.

The operator, Brian Schimmels of Red Diamond Construction, Inc., went into the water with the excavator but escaped with minor injuries, the report said. The company is a subcontractor with Harcon Inc., the contractor rebuilding the Harrison Bridge for the Idaho Transportation Department.

Though the excavator contained 100 gallons of fuel and 100 gallons of hydraulic fluid, none leaked into the river, said June Bergquist of the DEQ. The excavator was removed from the river using a crane Friday, Bergquist said.