Staff Reports
HOMERVILLE — Three utility workers spent four hours trapped in a water tower on Monday night.
At 5:20 p.m. three workers with Utility Services out of Perry, Ga. fell while sandblasting inside of a 150 foot, 500,000 gallon water tower in Clinch Industrial Park West, said Albert Thornton, Homerville City Manager.
First reports indicated that the workers fell between 20 to 50 feet off of a work platform inside the water storage tower. Two of the workers sustained injuries from the fall.
First responders from Clinch County and Lanier County received assistance from Georgia Search and Rescue Task Force Two based out of Valdosta to extricate the workers.
Valdosta Fire Department Captain and GSAR Task Force Two Leader, Ken Gallagher said it was determined that lowering the injured workers 100 feet down the middle pipe of the water tower was the best way to proceed.
The first injured worker, Jose Alfredo Suarez-Torres, 24, from South Carolina was out of the tower by 8:50 p.m. and Miguel Morano, 32, was lowered an hour later to waiting paramedics who transported the pair to South Georgia Medical Center.
Torres suffered a broken arm and Morano broken ribs. The third worker was uninjured.
Gallagher said this was the first deployment of the task force and they were lucky it was a rescue and not a recovery. The 150 foot tower was undergoing regular maintenance, a task that was on schedule to be completed in a few weeks.
Photographer Paul Leavy contributed information for this story. For more photos, visit www.valdostadailytimes.com
Local News
Water tower rescue
Three workers trapped in a water tower in Homerville rescued
- Local News
-
-
Airport Authority tours True Flight Aerospace Plant
VALDOSTA — The Valdosta-Lowndes County Airport Authority toured the True Flight Aerospace Plant after their meeting Wednesday morning. True Flight President and CEO, Kevin Lancaster, lead the tour through the facility which is located in the largest hanger at the Valdosta Regional Airport. -
Lake Park: Council members resign
Immediately following the Citizens to be Heard portion of the regular Lake Park council meeting Tuesday night, council members Eric Schindler and Paul Mulkey tendered their resignations.
-
Valwood goes global
Valwood School has hosted several international guests for the past several weeks.
-
City cuts ribbon on new home
With a snip of some over-sized wooden scissors, the City of Valdosta took another step in eliminating substandard housing.
-
Berrien clinic director loses job
Speaking to The Valdosta Daily Times about the possible discontinuation of the Berrien Elementary School MED Clinic led to the program’s executive director losing her job Monday morning.
-
From the CIA to man about town
Meet Jack Pruden, former member of the Central Intelligence Agency.
-
Berrien school medical facility faces an uncertain future
A state-of-the-art medical facility that was introduced in Berrien County public schools in 2010 might be ending soon.
-
New TV listings section debuts in print edition
In Sunday editions of The Valdosta Daily Times, keep an eye out for the updated TV listings section.
-
Man shot in Valdosta; police car, ambulance collide
Response to a shooting Saturday afternoon led to a collision between a police vehicle and an ambulance.
-
Annual Father-Daughter Dance enters 16th year
Three-week-old Emmaline Taylor lay contentedly on dad Trey Taylor’s shoulder Friday night, completely oblivious to the sights and sounds of the Father-Daughter Valentine Dance.
Now in its 16th year, the popular annual event is sponsored by Valdosta’s First Presbyterian Church and held at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center.
“We’ve been looking forward to this,” Trey Taylor said. “When we first got pregnant, (my wife Sheya and I) looked to see if she would be here in time for the Father-Daughter Dance.” - More Local News Headlines
-
Airport Authority tours True Flight Aerospace Plant
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Video of Ga. Man Who Killed Girl Released
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
