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Worker's body recovered from Downers Grove storm sewer after over day of searching
FOX 32 Chicago • • nation
Key Points:
- The body of the second contractor trapped inside a Downers Grove storm sewer was recovered Tuesday afternoon after emergency crews spent over a day navigating hazardous underground conditions.
- The incident began Monday when two contractors became trapped during a pipe rehabilitation project on a large-diameter storm sewer beneath Curtiss Street; one was rescued in good condition while the other was missing until recovery efforts resumed.
- The contractors were working on repairing an 11-foot-wide concrete pipe carrying St. Joseph Creek and stormwater, part of a long-term infrastructure project that has faced delays due to heavy rainfall and deteriorated pipe conditions.
- Emergency responders faced challenges such as high water levels, dangerous gases, and ongoing runoff in the sewer system, which caused the operation to shift from rescue to recovery.
- The DuPage County Coroner’s Office will determine the cause of death, and the investigation remains ongoing; authorities have not yet released the identity of the deceased worker.
