Chicago-area contractor goes missing in sewer as he is swept away during heavy storms

Chicago-area contractor goes missing in sewer as he is swept away during heavy storms - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments A Chicago-area contractor working in a sewer pipe was swept away by stormwaters Monday afternoon and still has not been found. The contractor and a colleague were cleaning a sewer pipe on a construction site in Downers Grove, Illinois, when a storm hit the area just before 1 p.m. The rising stormwaters reportedly trapped the workers in the pipe and carried them through the system, according to NBC 5. Firefighters rescued one worker approximately 200 feet from the spot where he'd entered the sewer. That worker was taken for treatment at Endeavor Health Good Samaritan Hospital and is expected to recover. The second worker was not immediately found, and firefighters had to suspend their operations Monday night due to dangerous water conditions in the pipes. The sewer system is fed by runoff from surrounding streets, so it can take hours before water levels recede to a safe level, Fox 32 Chicago reported. The search for the worker will continue once conditions improve but fire officials said that they are treating further searches as a recovery operation, not a rescue. Neither worker has been identified. "The Fire Department has transitioned from rescue to a recovery operation. Current water conditions within the storm sewer make further search efforts extremely dangerous," fire officials said in a statement posted to social media. "The search efforts will resume when the water conditions within the sewer improve to a safe condition." The 11-foot pipe where the incident occurred was built in the 1960s by Downers Grove to help prevent the village from flooding. It carries water from St. Joseph Creek and stormwater runoff under the village. Due to its age, the pipe needed repairs, which is why contractors were present in the sewer. Severe thunderstorms that hit the area Monday prompted a tornado warning in surrounding DuPage County, according to Downers Grove officials. The village was subjected to flooding, toppled trees, and power outages resulting from the storm. "The Village is responding to reports of localized flooding, downed tree limbs, and storm-related debris throughout the community. Crews are working to clear roadways and address safety concerns as quickly as possible. Residents are asked to keep the following guidance in mind as cleanup efforts continue," the village said on its website. Power was still out for more than 5,000 Commonwealth Edison customers as of 9 a.m. Tuesday morning. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments