ODOT worker who fell in McGonigle culvert was alone, called for help

Dispatch then received a call from the injured man, breathing heavily and audibly in pain, lying in a creek bed and unable to move.

“I think I broke my back. I’m still laying in the water,” the injured worker said to dispatch. “The water’s cold.”

The man stayed on the phone with dispatch for more than eight minutes before he was located by responders. A medical helicopter was called to the scene and landed at the nearby Maude Marshall Elementary School to transport the man to the hospital.

“First and foremost, our thoughts are with our team member and their family,” said ODOT spokesperson Kathleen Fuller said, who explained the inspector was there to collect samples and document information for a project to install a culvert liner. “We are working with investigating personnel to ascertain additional information, and due to privacy restrictions, we are unable to release any information concerning his condition.”