Friday, July 6, 2018

A construction worker was killed when he fell inside the 150-foot water tower on Water Well Road at Loop 494 and was pinned by a steel panel in Porter, Texas








A construction worker was killed when he fell inside a water tower in Porter, Texas.


By Jeff Ehling
Updated 55 mins ago
PORTER, Texas (KTRK) -- A construction worker has been killed in an accident involving a water tower in Montgomery County.

Authorities said four people were reported trapped inside the 150-foot water tower on Water Well Road at Loop 494 early this morning when a steel panel shifted and fell on the workers.


The panel pinned the man who died inside the tower. Another worker was taken to a hospital with arm and chest injuries. Two other workers were rescued and unhurt.

Officials with the Porter Fire Department believe the piece of metal was being lifted and put into place at the time of the accident.

People who live around the area tell ABC13 the first sign of trouble was a loud boom when a piece of steel fell from a crane and into the tower.

"All you could see was the whole panel come down into the tower," said eyewitness Kevin Reed.

Kevin Reed says he rushed to help the victims of the water tower accident in Porter.

Firefighters used the crane to get to the four workers inside.

"There was one guy they did not have a visual on early on, but then they were able to see him, and that is when they noticed he was a fatality," said Asst. Chief Cleave Pamphile with the Porter Fire Department.

The men working on the tower are contractors with Phoenix Fabricators.

The tower is a 500,000 gallon water storage tank that is under construction.