Astoria Sewer Overflow Construction Workers Injured By Manhole Cover

On December 18, 2013 at 4:20 PM Astoria 911 received multiple 911 calls reporting that a man had been struck by a manhole cover near the intersection of 8^th and Harrison in Astoria. Emergency crews responded from Astoria Fire Department, Astoria Police, Medix Ambulance and Astoria Public Works. They found a worker that had received a traumatic injury to his head and another worker who had minor injuries. Both workers were transported by Medix Ambulance to Columbia Memorial Hospital. No further information is available on their injuries.
Initial information indicates that the workers, employed by Tapani Incorporated, were performing pressure testing on recently laid pipe. There was an apparent failure of equipment used for testing which resulted in pressure being vented through the manhole cover. It appears that the more seriously injured worker was leaning over and struck in the head by the manhole cover when it was lifted out of the street.
While emergency responders were on scene 8^th street was closed. All traffic has been returned to normal.