Nov 24, 2009 12:37 pm US/Central
Nicor Utility Worker Pinned, Killed By Excavator
Truck Knocked Over Back-Hoe, Which Fell Over Onto Gas Company Worker
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (CBS) ―
A Nicor utility worker is dead after a terrible accident, in which a truck knocked over a piece of excavation equipment and pinned him underneath.
The accident occurred around 5 p.m. Monday, at Leverenz Road east of Book Road in unincorporated Naperville. A white Isuzu driven by Thomas Williams, 67, of Aurora, ran off the road and struck a back-hoe working on a ditch, said Will County Sheriff's Department spokesman Pat Barry.
The back-hoe toppled over, pinning a Gary Cichy, 52, of Hinckley underneath, according to Barry.
The worker was initially seriously injured when the box truck traveling west on Leverenz Road apparently struck or sideswiped the excavator, causing it to flip over into a ditch.
The excavator at the time was on the northern shoulder of Leverenz Road about a block east of Book Road. The crash occurred in the Wheatland View area, an unincorporated portion of Will County near Naperville's far south side.
Naperville Fire Department paramedics at 5:19 p.m. rushed the injured man by ambulance to Edward Hospital. Barry said the man died there.
A Naperville police and fire emergency radio report broadcast at 5:01 p.m. indicated a LifeStar helicopter was asked to fly to the scene. The helicopter pilot was unable to respond due to the evening's fog and other inclement weather conditions, the report indicated.
The front passenger side of the box truck peeled away upon impact with the excavator. Williams was the only passenger of the truck and was not injured, Barry said.
Sixteen Naperville Fire Department emergency rescue vehicles were sent to the scene, along with a number of Naperville Police Department cars.
Tom Kallay, Nicor's community relations director, said Monday night the crash remains under investigation.
"It's a tragic incident," Kallay said. "It's under investigation and we're cooperating with the authorities to determine what transpired out there."
Bruce Sloier had just returned home from a hunting trip to southern Illinois and was unloading venison into his garage when it happened.
"I was looking at the gentleman" from Nicor Gas who was operating a DitchWitch excavator—tool carrier near the front lawn of his house, Sloier said. "He was doing such a nice job backhoeing and all."
"Then I heard a bang and came outside" to find the Nicor worker pinned beneath the now-toppled excavator, Sloier said. "Another guy was yelling 'Jerry! Jerry! Are you OK?'"
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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