Search Continues for Missing Construction Worker

Tue May 22, 2018 - National Edition
Craig Mongeau - CEG Editor in Chief

Capt. Jake Van Hook with the Phoenix Fire Department said one of the workers had been unaccounted for since the rig toppled at 9:30 a.m. (Nathan J. Fish/The Republic photo)

A search continues for a missing construction worker after a drilling rig toppled onto its side at a construction site at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

Officials were still attempting to clear the collapsed equipment late May 21, 2018, and ceased operations around 11:45 p.m. due to safety concerns, azcentral.com reported.

Despite removing some of the rig's heavy components, construction crews were unable to move the downed drill rig; the Phoenix Fire Department plans to bring in a larger crane to lift the toppled drill rig.

Operations were set to resume between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 22.

The incident occurred just south of Sky Harbor Boulevard, near the West Economy parking lot and west of Terminals 3 and 4. The site was on Sky Harbor property, as construction is being done for the PHX Sky Train, azcentral.com reported.

Capt. Jake Van Hook with the Phoenix Fire Department said one of the workers had been unaccounted for since the rig toppled at 9:30 a.m. He is believed to be the operator of the rig, he said.

Van Hook said officials have reason to believe that the missing construction worker was trapped in a hole being blocked by the heavy machinery. The worker's condition was unknown.

Van Hook added that because of the complicated nature of the incident and specialized resources needed to move the toppled equipment, access to the recently excavated hole could take an extended amount of time.

Earlier in the day, crews had attempted to reposition and upright the rig but had not been successful going into the evening hours. That prompted crews to take a new approach by Monday evening that involved removing the track of the machine to lighten the load, Van Hook said.

One of the tracks was successfully removed at around 9:45 p.m., Van Hook said.

The next step was to reposition the equipment to continue to try to remove the downed rig, he said.

The accident happened where construction on an extension of the Phoenix Sky Train is taking place.

Sky Harbor operations were not affected by the incident but power lines around the area were knocked down, Van Hook said.

Craig Mongeau

Craig Mongeau has been Construction Equipment Guide’s editor in chief for the past 21-plus years. He directly manages CEG’s Northeast and Southeast editions (which includes New England, Georgia and Alabama state supplements); Superintendent’s Profile; Crane Guide; Northeast and Southeast-based anniversary magazines; and special event publications. He also oversees CEG’s Midwest and Western Editions as well as all CEG website content.

A Hofstra University graduate, Craig began his publishing career as a staff writer for local Southeast Pennsylvania newspapers. He then became an associate editor and book editor of Springhouse Corporation, a Pennsylvania-based medical publishing house and then worked as a managing editor of Rockhill Communications, based in Bala Cynwyd, Pa., where he created and managed content for a national Voluntary Hospital Association website.

Originally from Pittsfield, Mass., Craig has lived in North Wales, Pa., for the past 27 years. He has been married to his wife, Hillary, whom he met in college, since 1998 and together, they have two daughters, Jolie and Aubrie.

Today's top stories

Construction Market Boosts Economy

Bobcat Company Donates $885,000 in Equipment to Support Salvation Army's Disaster Relief Efforts

VIDEO: KEMROC Expands; Plans to Increase Nationwide Presence

'Machinery Pete' Interviews Jack Lyon On RFD TV

Huntsville, Ala.'s Sandra Moon Community Complex to Begin Final, $31.3M Phase of Work

Unique Skid Steer Tire Increases Snow Clearing Performance, Safety

New Deutz Power Center Mid-Atlantic Opens in Ashland, Va.

2025 CGA Conference & Expo Opens Registration On Nov. 6

Related...

ARIZONA safety

Read more about...

ARIZONA safety

Our Main Office

Construction Equipment Guide
470 Maryland Drive
Fort Washington, PA 19034
800-523-2200

About Us

Construction Equipment Guide covers the nation with its four regional newspapers, offering construction and industry news and information along with new and used construction equipment for sale from dealers in your area. Now we extend those services and information to the internet. Making it as easy as possible to find the news and equipment that you need and want.

Contents Copyrighted 2024, by Construction Equipment Guide, which is a Registered Trademark, registered in the U.S. Patent Office. Registration number 0957323. All rights reserved, nothing may be reprinted or reproduced (including framing) in whole or part without written permission from the publisher. All editorial material, photographs, drawings, letters, and other material will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to Construction Equipment Guide’s unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially. Contributor articles do not necessarily reflect the policy or opinions of this publication.

Read our privacy policy here.
Mastodon

39.95234 \\ -75.16379 \\ Fort Washington \\ PA