Accident at West Texas drilling rig leaves 2 workers dead Friday, 2 Sep 2016 | 9:47 AM ETThe Associated Press
DENVER CITY, Texas (AP) — Authorities say two workers have died following a drilling rig accident in West Texas.
Yoakum County Sheriff Donald Corzine (KORZ'-eyen) said Friday that investigators are trying to determine if weather was a factor.
Corzine says the two men were at a Norton Energy Drilling site near Denver City on Wednesday when there was some type of mechanical accident. The sheriff had no additional details on what went wrong. He says recent heavy rain had left the site muddy.
The sheriff says one worker died at the scene. The other received medical attention but later died. Names of the victims weren't immediately released.
Federal investigators will review the accident.
An attorney for Lubbock-based Norton Energy Drilling didn't immediately return a message for comment.
Denver City is 75 miles southwest of Lubbock. =============
Funeral services scheduled for men killed in drilling rig accident Posted: Aug 31, 2016 6:46 PM EST Updated: Sep 02, 2016 9:15 PM EST
By Amber Stegall, Digital Content Manager
Alfred "Freddie" Velez was 33 (Source: Wilsons' Funeral Directors of Wolfforth) LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - According to Norton Energy Drilling's Facebook page, two employees were killed in an accident on Rig #4, northeast of Denver City.
The company states Jose Sepeda and Alfred Velez were killed in the accident.
According to officials with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and investigation into the deadly accident is ongoing. They say it is too early to know the specific details of the accident, but as soon as the investigation is complete, the results will be released.
The family of Alfred "Freddie" Velez, 33, of Levelland will greet friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5 at Wilsons' Funeral Directors Chapel in Wolfforth. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6 at South Plains Church, 1421 Cactus Dr. in Levelland with Bro. Doug Riddle officiating. Services and cremation are under the care of Wilsons' Funeral Directors of Wolfforth. To send online condolences, go to www.wilsonsfuneraldirectors.com Velez is survived by his wife, Amanda Velez and five children.
Services for Jose Sepeda will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3 at St. Michael's Catholic Church. Arrangements by Head Duarte Funeral Home of Levelland. =======================
Lubbock-based Norton Energy Drilling reports 2 dead after rig accident
Posted: August 31, 2016 - 7:15pm
By Adam D. Young
A-J MEDIA LOCAL NEWS EDITOR
A Lubbock-based energy company on Wednesday was reporting a deadly accident on one of its rigs.
Norton Energy Drilling issued a statement on its Facebook page Wednesday afternoon reporting two workers were killed in an accident on one of the company’s rigs.
The full statement reads:
“Oilfield community, our company is asking for prayers for two of our family that were killed in an accident on our rig #4. Please remember the families of Jose Sepeda and Alfred Velez in your prayers!!! These two were hard-working, valued employees, and all our hearts are broken. Thank you all!”
It was not immediately clear where rig #4 is located or what caused the accident as officials with the company did not return A-J Media emails and phone calls requesting comment by Wednesday evening. The company’s website lists seven rigs on its roster, but does not indicate details about the rigs or where they’re located.
A spokesman with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration did not immediately return an A-J Media request for comment on the incident. Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. John Gonzalez, a spokesman for the DPS in the Lubbock area, said he had not heard about such an incident involving the company.
