Makeshift Memorial For Crane Victims Set Up

HOUSTON -- A makeshift memorial was set up Saturday for four contract workers who lost their lives when a crane collapsed at a Houston refinery, KPRC Local 2 reported.

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Neighbors Remember Crane Collapse Victim As 'Great Guy':
Courtney Zavala Reports

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Cathy Touchton said she couldn't help but think of what could have happened.

"It's very upsetting," Touchton said. "My husband may not have been here today."

Touchton's husband works on the crane and very well could have been in the crush zone when the 400-foot machine came crashing down Friday afternoon.

"He was supposed to be on that (crane) but he got switched to nights," Touchton said. "He was supposed to start nights Friday."

Marion "Scooter" Hubert Odom III, 41, of Highlands; John D. Henry, 33, of Dayton; Daniel "DJ" Lee Johnson, 30, of Dayton and Rocky Dale Strength, 30, of Santa Fe, Texas, died when a crane fell at the LyondellBasell refinery in the Houston Ship Channel at about 1:30 p.m. Friday. All were contract workers with Deep South Crane and Rigging.

The accident touched many in the community, including Arnold Martinez. He is a contract worker at the refinery who said he was in a crane accident years ago at another refinery.

"It sends a chill down my back and a gut-wrenching feeling that I don't like, that I don't ever want to feel again," Martinez said.

The LyondellBasell company reached out to grieving workers Saturday and honored those who were killed.

"We're doing grief counseling and really working at moving forward, but we want to reflect on what happened," spokesman David Roznowski said.

A formal investigation is under way. Company officials said Occupational Safety and Health Administration is leading the investigation.

Neighbors Remember Victim As 'Great Guy'

A southeast Houston community was in shock and mourning Strength, who they called a "great guy."

"He would do anything for you. He was a hard worker. To hear what happened is a tragedy to all of us around here," former neighbor Mervin Overton said.

It's unclear where Strength was when the massive crane collapsed.

Strength recently moved but still kept in contact with his neighbors. He made quite an impression on the small, tight-knit community.

"It hurts. I'm going to miss him," said Overton as he fought back tears.

The neighbors found out about Strength's death while sitting in Overton's garage Friday. The garage is the neighborhood sports hangout complete with a picnic table, fans and a television. The floor is painted with markings like a football field.

Overton said he had a lot of good times with Strength.

Residents described Strength as the life of party and someone who was never in a bad mood. They feel like they lost a family member.

"This whole street is more like family, and with him, it's a loss to the whole family," said Overton.