CHICAGO () — A search operation continued Monday night in west suburban Downers Grove after one contractor was pulled from a storm sewer and another remained missing, officials said.
Downers Grove police said officers were alerted at about 12:50 p.m. near the 800-block of Curtiss Street.
Authorities said the two contractors had been working on a city sewer-cleaning project when powerful storms moved through the area, dumping heavy rain and creating dangerous conditions underground.
Downers Grove firefighters were able to reach and rescue one contractor about 200 feet from the sewer entry point. That worker was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital and was reported to be in good condition.
The second contractor, however, was still unaccounted for as of 8:30 p.m. The Village of Downers Grove said crews had shifted from a rescue effort to a recovery operation.
Late Monday, a mobile incident command post remained active and illuminated near the scene. Village officials said high water and hazardous sewer conditions had made the search “extremely dangerous,” and crews would continue once conditions were safer.
Large sections of nearby streets were blocked off throughout the afternoon as emergency crews searched the storm sewer system. Sources told ABC7 that responders were moving through pipes roughly 8 feet in diameter, including lines running beneath roads and into wooded areas behind nearby homes.
No additional details were immediately released by officials.
This is a developing story. Check back with ABC7 for updates.
