Injured worker rescued from trench during water main repair

A worker was rescued from a trench Sunday afternoon during repairs to a broken water main at the Panda Express restaurant on John Wayne Parkway.

A contractor was injured when a piece of pipe struck his leg, according to Jon Corwin, vice president and general manager of Global Water, the city’s water utility.

The injured worker needed medical attention and was unable to get himself out of the hole near the restaurant’s drive-thru lane.

Maricopa fire crews responded to scene and halted all activity in the immediate area to  reduce the risk of vibrations causing a catastrophic collapse of the 12-foot-deep trench, said Chris Bolinger, deputy chief of the Maricopa Fire/Medical Department. As a result, the southbound lanes of John Wayne Parkway were temporarily shut down.

Dozens of first responders were on the scene at The Shops at Maricopa Fiesta shopping center for the rescue. Technical rescue companies from Phoenix and Chandler fire departments were part of the rescue team assisting the patient, who was transported to a local area hospital for treatment of his injury, according to Bolinger, who said no other injuries were reported.

The water main break was discovered overnight, and workers were on scene to isolate the failed section of water main, Corwin said.

Some Global Water customers may have experienced decreased water pressure overnight, but the failed section has been isolated, he said. A team will begin repair of the water main when it gets the go-ahead from authorities.

It could be Tuesday by the time the repair is made, depending on when crews can resume repairs, said Corwin, noting the utility will conduct a customary water quality test before restoring service to the water main.

Corwin said the utility did not know the cause of the water main break.