Nevada Power worker injured

Karen Zekan

Tuesday, May 12, 1998 | 10:03 a.m.

A construction worker remained hospitalized with a back injury after falling 30 feet down a hole at a Nevada Power Co. substation Monday.

Dan Crowder, 34, slipped backward and fell into the 4-foot-wide hole about 10:35 a.m. while helping a large yellow drilling rig get realigned for the next hole, authorities said.

Tom Henley, Nevada Power spokesman, said the holes were being prepared to hold large metal poles that support transmission lines at the Pecos substation, located almost two miles northeast of the intersection at Lossee and Craig roads.

Crowder is employed by Union Power Construction, which has been subcontracted for the substation's expansion project underway for about three weeks.

North Las Vegas Fire Department responded to the call and was assisted by Clark County Fire's heavy rescue team. Crowder was in the hole an estimated 45 minutes before rescuers had the elaborate equipment set up and prepared to go.

One rescue person was eventually lowered into the hole and suited Crowder with a vest apparatus which was used to gently raise him to the surface at 11:52 a.m., said J.C. Gallo, North Las Vegas Fire division chief.

"Any excess vibrations on the side of a hole can cause a collapse," Gallo said. "We wanted to make sure we followed a slow, meticulous (process) when performing the rescue, because a rescue like that is not the time to hurry."

Crowder was transported by ambulance to University Medical Center where doctors determined that he suffered an L-1 fracture, a hospital spokeswoman said.