Family of accident victim maintains hope he’s alive

BANGOR – Four days after her brother was catapulted into the icy Kennebec River during a dredging accident, Tracie Ware said Sunday some relatives still cling to the hope that he’s alive.

Steven Oldham, 48, of Felton, Del., has been missing and presumed dead since the crane he was operating toppled from a barge at Bath Iron Works.

“My son is adamant that he made it to shore and is hurt somewhere,” said Ware, who is from Dover, Del.

The accident occurred close to the beach, she said Sunday after she called the Bangor Daily News to express her gratitude that the newspaper had included a story about the search on its Web site, where she could read it.

But other siblings can’t help but believe Steven Oldham is gone forever.

“It’s all mixed. You put seven kids together and my mother, all hysterically crying, and everyone has a different opinion,” Ware said.

A dive team reached the cabin of the crane Friday but found no sign of Oldham, who had been wearing a life preserver.

Search and recovery efforts have been suspended, although the Maine Marine Patrol has agreed to coordinate further checks of the river when conditions allow.

The barge and crane belonged to Weeks Marine of Cranford, N.J., a subcontractor for Atkinson Construction Co. The outfit is subcontracting with Clark Builders of Maine, hired by BIW to perform a $240 million overhaul of the shipyard on the river.

On Tuesday, a crane will be brought from New Jersey to help raise the submerged crane, according to Ware, who said she is torn.

“I want to find him in the cab to get some closure, but then again I don’t want to find him because that’s it, there’s no more hope.”

The Oldhams are a close-knit family, but with members scattered across the East Coast, Steven was the glue that held the group together.

“With all those brothers and sisters, he’s the one who kept in touch with everyone,” said Ware.

The fifth-oldest, Steven looked just like the father who died eight years ago, according to Ware.

He was devoted to his mother.

“He was her backbone. Others gave her things, but he was there for her. He’d make sure there was oil in the tank. He’d take her to the hairdresser’s. Anything she needed, he was there,” Ware said.

The dredging job had been Oldham’s final task before heading home for a traditional family holiday, according to Ware.

“He always made Christmas breakfast at Mom’s house,” she said.

While Ware and her brothers plan on being at the site Tuesday when the crane is raised, the rest of the family will wait for news at the mother’s house in Bowers Beach, Del.

“The hope is going to be there,” Ware said.