TRINITY — Three men died as the result of an industrial accident on Wednesday in the Westwood Shores subdivision of Trinity County.
Trinity Fire Chief Keith Johnson said that the victims, John Nelson Sr., 52, of Cleveland; Bradley Wrightsman, 46, of Katy; and Brad Huttson, 47, of Willis, were reportedly doing a repair on an above-ground pump.
At some point, the three went into the manhole for the sewer line; Johnson said he is unsure as to the reason.
According to Trinity County Chief Deputy Jeremy Carroll, crews from H20 Innovations of Spring and Hydro Clear Services of Magnolia were performing a task on the lift station, which is managed by H20. The pump is above ground; however, a line or hose had cracked in the manhole which caused a complication.
Carroll said one of the victims went in to clamp off the leak, and the gas overwhelmed him; then the second victim went in to try to help the first and was overcome. The third victim, from Hydro Clear, went in to help the other two, carrying a gas meter which showed dangerous levels of gas. He tried to leave but was overcome and fell back into the manhole.
Carroll said other crew members were there, but since they were not equipped to enter the manhole, they contacted authorities.
Johnson said the Trinity Volunteer Fire Department the received a report of three people trapped in a manhole; they arrived on scene within 7 minutes and saw the open manhole, which was 25-30 feet deep, full of liquid and rescue personnel were unable to see anyone.
He said there was a vacuum truck there, but the operator was in the manhole. The truck was put into use, but it could not keep up with the incoming flow. A second pump truck arrived, but Johnson said it was too late for a rescue and personnel began focusing on recovery.
“We believe that initially, sewer gas deprived them oxygen,” he said.
Montgomery County’s Technical Rescue team was called and recovered the bodies, and Johnson, who also is a Justice of the Peace, pronounced them dead at the scene.
Frédéric Dugré, H2O Innovation President and CEO, the company that hired the men, said Wednesday was a profoundly difficult day for their team.
“Earlier today, two H2O Innovation employees and a contractor lost their lives in a tragic work accident, Dugré said. “They were valued members of our team, and their sudden passing is an immense loss not only to their families and friends but also to all of us who had the privilege of working alongside them.”
According to Dugré, the men reported to the area in Trinity to conduct repairs.
“We are still working to determine what led up to the deaths, working closely with the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office and other local officials,” he said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of the three people who lost their lives. This is a sad day for our entire team.
Right now, we are focused on doing all we can to support the families of those employees and the rest of our team,” Dugré said. “Out of respect for them and the continuing investigation, we will release more information when it is available and as permitted by the families and law enforcement.”
The victims were sent to Beaumont for autopsies.
Carroll said this looked like an accident that turned into a tragedy, and that the investigation is continuing pending the results of the autopsy.
