Man dies after being pinned between oil rig and crane.

Man dies after being pinned between oil rig and crane.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

CLAYBANKS TOWNSHIP — A 31-year-old Pompeii, Michigan man died from being crushed and impaled when he was pinned between an oil rig and a crane Thursday, Jan. 21, at 12:15 p.m. at a job site at Park Road and 44th Avenue, according to Michigan State Police Trooper Conner Crutchfield.

The man, whose name is not being released pending notification of family, died at the scene, said Crutchfield.

He was an employee for McConnell & Scully, Inc. based in Homer, Michigan. He was one of two workers on the ground directing the driver — a 53-year-old Remus, Michigan man — who was backing up the semi, which was carrying the crane, to the oil rig, said Crutchfield. He became pinned between the oil rig and the crane when the crane rolled back on the semi trailer. 

“He was one of two people holding a tape measure, because the truck had to be a certain distance from the oil rig,” said the trooper. It is unknown why the man didn’t stay off to the side and stepped in between the crane and the oil rig.

The work crew was setting up to begin maintenance on an oil rig.

“It was a combination of a crush injury, and he was impaled as well,” said Crutchfield. The man was impaled by a pipe that came out of the oil rig.

An autopsy will be performed in Big Rapids, said Crutchfield.

Also responding to the scene were the Department of Natural Resources, a Michigan State Police accident investigator, the Oceana County Medical Examiner and the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

The accident remains under investigation.

“It was definitely an unfortunate scene and event,” said Crutchfield.

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