Construction worker dies after fall in manhole shaft in northern Pickaway County
A Fairfield County man died Monday after reportedly falling back into a 30-foot manhole shaft in Harrison Township in northern Pickaway County, authorities said.
Terry L. Miller Jr., 34, of Amanda, an employee of Rock River Construction of Lancaster, had been working on a sewer line when the incident occurred shortly before 12:30 p.m. off Rickenbacker Parkway near the intersection with Thoroughbred Drive, the Pickaway County Sheriff's Department said.
Steve Sabine, spokesman for Harrison Township Fire Department., said Miller had climbed to the top of the 30-foot manhole shaft and apparently fell back in.
Sabine said township firefighters dropped an air monitor into the manhole and determined there was a low level of oxygen at the bottom of the shaft, so they had to wait for firefighters from other departments with the right equipment to arrive.
Firefighters from Columbus Division of Fire, Rickenbacker Airport, and Madison and Jackson townships from Franklin County, and Scioto Township in Pickaway County responded and assisted at the scene, Sabine said.
Deputies on the scene said Miller was found in "heavily flowing" water at the bottom of the shaft.
Columbus firefighters with special confined space training went into the shaft to retrieve Miller. Sabine said it took about 25 minutes to pull the victim up to the surface at around 2:13 p.m.
The sheriff's department said Harrison Township medics then pronounced Miller dead at the scene.
Miller's body was being taken to the Montgomery County coroner's office for an autopsy, Sabine said.
A message was left with Rock River Construction Co. on Monday afternoon seeking comment.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is expected to investigate the incident, but could not be reached for comment late Monday afternoon.
mferench@dispatch.com
@MarkFerenchik
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Construction worker dies after fall in manhole in Pickaway County
