Falling equipment crushes construction worker in Aurora

A construction worker was crushed by falling machinery in Aurora Wednesday while working near Indian Trail and Deerpath roads, according to officials at the Aurora Fire Department.

Aurora Fire Department Asst. Chief John Lehman said paramedics were called at about 1:37 p.m. after a bucket from an excavator detached and fell on a 48-year-old working in the Verona Ridge subdivision.

The man, whose name fire officials would not release, was in a 6 foot-by-8 foot trench when the accident happened, Lehman said.

The bucket pinned the man, officials said, crushing his chest region.

"This is a very large piece of equipment," Lehman said. "It had him pinned in there."

The construction company managed to get the equipment off the man before paramedics reached the scene, but officials said he was not conscious nor was he breathing when help arrived.

"He did have a pulse," Lehman said. Paramedics stabilized the injured man as best they could, he said, then called a helicopter to fly him to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.

"He was definitely in serious condition," Lehman said.

Further details on the man's condition were unavailable Wednesday night.

Another worker suffered a minor shoulder injury in the accident, according to officials, and was taken to Provena Mercy Center in Aurora.

Lehman said he could not speculate about what caused the accident.