A Collapsed Oil Derrick Causes Scene Along Highway 85 - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

A Collapsed Oil Derrick Causes Scene Along Highway 85

A collapsed oil derrick is causing quite the scene just north of Belfield along Highway 85.

Based on information from Nabors Drilling, OSHA representatives say no one was injured, but they are initiating an investigation.

If we report an accident along Highway 85, it usually involves vehicles, but this crash has drivers slowing down to take a look, and take a picture.

"I was on my way to work and everyone stopped to take pictures, I saw sheriff's department parked across the street, so I just had to stop and see it, never seen anything like it." says Daniel Head/Lives and works near Belfield.

Dozens of drivers on a busy highway in oil country are pulling over to see this Nabors drilling rig # B-15.

"I worked on the rigs for ten years, but I've never seen anything like that." says Sy Nordeng/Watford City.

According to Alison Ritter with the Oil and Gas Division the oil derrick toppled over while crews were "rigging down"-- or getting ready to move to a next location.

"I've never seen anything like that, I've seen sub-structures collapse, but never a derrick." says Sy Nordeng.

Several drivers, who have worked in the oilfield, say they had to wrap their heads around what they were looking at.

"Lot of bent steel, I don't know how that would happen, just buckled, seen a lot of rigs, nothing like that." says Head.

"Drilling rig with the derrick over backward, it's not supposed to lay down that way." says Sy.

Whether you work in the oil field or drive on Highway 85, accidents are causing a lot of double-takes in western North Dakota.

"It's your life out there you have to trust the people you work with." says Nordeng.

Again no injuries were reported.

A voice message left with a Nabors Drilling superintendent in the Belfield office was not returned.