ISHPEMING -- A large excavator ended up in the basement of the old JC Penney building in downtown Ishpeming Wednesday afternoon.

T&G United Construction is in the process of demolishing the former department store.

Company owner Gene Davis was operating the excavator.  He says he was moving the track when it slid on the wet surface.  Then he heard some boards breaking and he jumped out of the cab.

That's when the excavator tipped into the basement.

Gene was not injured.  Two front-end loaders were needed to pull the machine out.

He says he'll be back at work Thursday.