Worker killed in Downers Grove storm sewer identified

The contract worker killed this week in a Downers Grove storm sewer has been identified as Ivan A. Perez, 33, of Pasadena, Texas, the DuPage County Coroner’s Office said.

The coroner determined the preliminary cause of death to be accidental drowning. A final determination will be made after the coroner receives results of toxicology tests.

Perez’s body was pulled out of a storm sewer Tuesday afternoon in the 5100 block of Washington Street.

Perez and another worker became trapped early Monday afternoon in an 11-foot-wide pipe that carries St. Joseph Creek underneath downtown Downers Grove. The accident occurred as Downers Grove and surrounding communities were hit with thunderstorms, high winds and tornado warnings.

The other worker was rescued on Monday.

The Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration is investigating the accident.