Fatal accident halts Illinois storm sewer rehabilitation project
(UI) — A Texas contractor was killed last week in a construction accident during a storm sewer rehabilitation project in Downers Grove, Ill., where two workers became trapped inside a large-diameter storm sewer during severe weather, Fox 32 Chicago reported.
The DuPage County Coroner identified the worker as Ivan Perez, 33, of Pasadena, Texas, and ruled the preliminary cause of death accidental drowning. Perez, an employee of Houston-based Vortex Lining Systems, was performing rehabilitation work inside the storm sewer when rising water trapped him and another contractor. The second worker was rescued and remains hospitalized in good condition.
The incident occurred on a long-term project to rehabilitate an aging 11-foot-diameter concrete storm sewer installed in the 1960s beneath downtown Downers Grove. Village officials said the culvert carries St. Joseph Creek and stormwater and has been undergoing cleaning, debris removal and liner installation as part of a multi-year rehabilitation effort.
Recovery efforts were delayed by high water levels and hazardous conditions inside the storm sewer, and authorities continue to investigate the incident, Fox 32 reported. The accident underscores the risks associated with confined-space work in underground utility systems, particularly during severe weather.
Related News
From Archive
- Gas line strike destroys three homes in Ohio neighborhood
- Buried utility damages hit record high in 2025, CGA reports
- Why excavation damage remains a major threat to Texas gas pipelines
- $1.6-billion Florida water project advances with pipeline, plant construction
- Inside Team Fishel's race to deliver fiber for a major data hub
Comments