A construction worker operating a front-loader accidentally wedged it underneath the Alabama Street overpass at the Southwest Freeway on Wednesday, creating what could be a traffic nightmare for commuters.

Houston firefighters were called out to the site where construction crews are working on the Texas 288 expansion and toll road near U.S. 59 and Alabama Street around 2:30 p.m. A worker accidentally drove the equipment into the bridge, wedging it between the bridge deck and slope.

Firefighters on scene told Chron.com that they are unsure why the worker crashed, saying the worker possibly suffered some sort of medical event and lost control of the equipment. He fell out of the front-loader and was rushed to an area hospital in an unknown condition, firefighters said.

WEATHER ALERT: Severe storms, traffic headaches could put damper on Wednesday night events

He was conscious and breathing as he was being loaded into the ambulance, they said.

As of 3 p.m., only one northbound lane of the Southwest Freeway is open as crews determine how to dislodge the equipment safely.
