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