Friday, May 29, 2015

3 WEATHERFORD RIG WORKERS INJURED IN HEMPHILL COUNTY, TEXAS EF-2 TORNADO IDENTIFIED











MAY 28, 2015

CANADIAN, TEXAS

Three Weatherford contractors were injured when a tornado struck the drilling rig they were working on late yesterday afternoon near Canadian. The three men were working for Cactus Drilling Rig #121 on an Apache location near the Nix Ranch.

Hemphill County Sheriff James Pearson confirmed yesterday that at least one tornado touched down north of Canadian and struck a drilling rig, adding that there was extensive damage to the doghouses on the location.

Pearson reported the three victims’ identities today. They are: Nick Kirkwood, who suffered head trauma and facial injuries and was treated and released from Hemphill County Hospital.

Adrian Mihalache, who was impaled by a wooden board—possibly a 2x4—and who is in critical condition with abdominal injuries today at Amarillo’s Northwest Texas Hospital.

Justin Ruthstorn, who suffered injuries to the pelvis and other areas, and who was transferred from Amarillo to Lubbock for specialized treatment. He is in critical condition.
None of the victim’s ages or places of residence are available.

All three victims were transported from the rig location by Hemphill County EMS to the hospital in Canadian, before the two more critically injured men were transferred to Amarillo’s Northwest Texas Hospital.

An Apache spokeswoman, Castlen Moore Kennedy, confirmed the tornado-related accident and injuries today, and said that all other personnel are safe and accounted for. “The well is secured and no other damage was reported.”

“Our thoughts are with all those affected,” she added.

Canadian firefighters, Hemphill County law enforcement and other emergency responders were dispatched to the rig around 5:15 pm yesterday afternoon when the accident was reported. They returned to Nix Ranch later in the evening, responding to a report of stranded rig workers, who had been attempting to drive out to the highway from the location and became trapped by flood waters.

The four as-yet unidentified men were in two vehicles and had been trapped on a sand bar, surrounded by deep, rushing water. Although rescuers were unable to reach them, Flap-Air Helicopter owner and pilot Trey Webb was able to fly into the area by helicopter and lift the men to safety.

Several other rig workers remained on location until the flood waters receded today.

Sheriff Pearson said that the assessment of damage from the flooding and from several tornadoes that touched down in the area is ongoing, but that no other injuries have been reported.

Editor's note: A National Weather Service preliminary survey confirmed an EF-2 tornado formed Thursday night in Canadian. The last tornado of that magnitude confirmed in the Texas Panhandle touched down on May 18, 2010 in Pringle. 
Source: http://amarillo.com