A worker escaped death Tuesday when a communications tower he was climbing toppled, sending him and the tower to the ground.
The accident happened at a gas well site just off Florence Road near Ponder, said Denton County Sheriff's Capt. Mike Caley. About 11 a.m. Castro Compression Company workers were erecting the 40-foot tower, used for communications between well sites, when the 21-year-old employee began climbing it.
"He was about 30 feet up, and he apparently didn't realize they were working on it at the base," Caley said. "It began falling over, and he went down with it."
The sheriff's captain said the ground was soft from recent rains, which lessened the impact when the worker hit the ground and the tower hit him. He suffered chest injuries and was taken to an area hospital by Ponder Fire Department paramedics. The injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, Caley said.
DONNA FIELDER can be reached at 940-566-6885. Her e-mail address is dfielder@dentonrc.com.
