Earthquake stops baseball, starts inspections

Kamila Crane, who earned a bachelor’s degree (1985) and master’s degree (1986) in civil engineering, was prepared to start rebuilding the Bay Area of California almost immediately after the Loma Linda earthquake of Oct. 17, 1989 — the same earthquake that interrupted the first game of that year’s baseball World Series. 

Crane worked in the bridge structures department of Sverdrup Corp. and was assigned to the California Department of Transportation in San Francisco at the time. She supervised falsework erection on the Cypress Freeway (I-880), which had partially collapsed on itself. The temporary supports that Crane helped install gave rescue workers the opportunity to search for survivors while preventing further collapse. 

Share This Story

Spark a Memory?

Share your story! Fill out the form below to share your fondest memory or anecdote of S&T. If you'd prefer not typing, you can also share by phone at 833-646-3715 (833-Miner150).

Stonehenge, ‘tis a magic place…’

Stonehenge, ‘tis a magic place…’

When the band Spinal Tap sang of Stonehenge as a “magic place … where the moon doth rise with a…

Tom Benton’s ‘Missouri,’ from mural to movie

Tom Benton’s ‘Missouri,’ from mural to movie

It was “over a few root beer floats” one night that James Bogan and Frank Fillo decided to make a…

Mo Dehghani: what lies ahead

Mo Dehghani: what lies ahead

Mohammad “Mo” Dehghani, who has been chancellor at S&T since 2019, discusses what he believes...

Kathy (Stone) and Bob Phillips

Kathy (Stone) and Bob Phillips

Kathy (Stone) and Bob Phillips were both living in TJ Hall’s North Tower when they met in August 1986 while…

Jenna (Freese) and Aaron Wundrack

Jenna (Freese) and Aaron Wundrack

Jenna (Freese) and Aaron Wundrack met in the mining engineering department in 2013, where they were both pursuing bachelor’s degrees…

Taylor Husman and Tyler Recker

Taylor Husman and Tyler Recker

Taylor Husman and Tyler Recker met on the patio of Kappa Sigma fraternity on their second night at S&T in…