Search for body of worker at Phoenix airport drill-rig site goes on
Rescuers believe they have identified the general location of a missing worker presumed dead at a construction site near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
Phoenix Fire Department rescue teams and construction crews are working jointly to avoid compromising the scene while searching for the worker, who has been missing since Monday when a drill rig overturned.
Construction crews completed excavating the collapse area Wednesday, allowing the vacuum trucks to operate safely and remove more dirt from the collapse site, officials said.
The hole had grown to 75 feet wide and about 22 feet deep as of Wednesday evening as a result of the continuing work, Phoenix fire officials said.
Crews removed 50 tons of dirt from the site with multiple vacuum trucks as of Wednesday night after bringing in a backhoe to clear more area, officials said.
"The ground is really unstable," Phoenix Fire Department Capt. Larry Subervi said, "Every time you dig sand out, more sand continues to fall in, that's what we're dealing with because the ground is so loose and not compacted.
"Pretty much every foot we go down, they have to go 2 to 3 feet wider," Subervi said.
Although the drill-rig operator's name has not been released, the city of Phoenix Aviation Department and the construction company have been in close contact with the family, Subervi said.
"I think that most people can sympathize with the situation, the waiting game is the worst," Subervi said. "We have a lot of dedicated people, we have about 100 people on site that are working diligently to try to do the recovery and to do the best we can for the family and for the victim as well."
Officials shifted from a rescue to recovery operation Tuesday given the amount of time elapsed from the initial incident and eyewitness accounts.
Construction workers were able to safely remove the drill rig from the collapsed hole Tuesday, fire officials said.
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.
The Sky Train guideway work — the track the cars ride on — is being overseen by contractor Hensel Phelps. The Colorado-based company also worked on earlier stages of Sky Train construction.
The company issued a statement to The Arizona Republic on Tuesday afternoon saying that its focus is on "supporting the recovery effort and on supporting the family."
"Hensel Phelps places the highest value on safety and, upon completion of the recovery effort, this incident will be thoroughly investigated so we understand what led to this incident."
The city of Phoenix has praised this company in the past. Jay DeWitt, then-deputy director of the airport, said, he would "absolutely hire Hensel Phelps again" giving them a "perfect 10."
The Industrial Commission of Arizona, which enforces state laws relating to Arizona worker safety, is investigating the accident, spokesman Trevor Laky said, declining further comment.
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