Des Plaines releases 911 recordings from fatal tollway construction accident

The city of Des Plaines has released recordings from three 911 calls received early Tuesday after a beam fell from the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway bridge over Touhy Avenue, killing one construction worker and injuring three more.

Vicente Santoyo of Berwyn, a 47-year-old father of four, died in the accident that occurred shortly before 3 a.m.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is reviewing the accident and has opened an investigation into Omega Demolition Corp. of Elgin, which was the subcontractor for the bridge project and Santoyo's employer, and Judlau Contracting Inc. of New York, the prime contractor.

Preliminary reports indicate crews were cutting steel cross bracing, which stabilized bridge beams, when one of the 40-ton beams fell. When beams are being removed, crews typically will hook them up to a crane with steel cables or other restraints to steady them.

Des Plaines released the 911 calls in response to a Freedom of Information request.