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Pipeline worker killed
Published 2:12pm Saturday, July 3, 2010
Government and law enforcement officials are continuing an investigation into an accident that claimed the life of a Tuscaloosa man in Atmore Thursday afternoon.
Steven Mark Johnson, 39, of Tuscaloosa, was killed when a section of pipe struck him on a work site along East Sunset Drive just off Hwy. 21 in Atmore.
Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mike Lambert said his department is conducting its own investigation and is assisting in an investigation being conducted by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officials.
“We are continuing our investigation into the accident,” Lambert said. “We are also assisting OSHA with their investigation. We actually stayed at the accident site all night Thursday night to make sure the site was secured and untouched.”
OSHA officials were to be on-site Friday to conduct their investigation, Lambert said.
Lambert said the accident occurred at a location where Price Gregory International, a pipeline contracting company based in Texas, was conducting work.
“The company was there on a contract with Florida Gas Transmission,” Lambert said. “They are overseeing work installing a pipeline from Texas to Tampa, Fla. They were working in an area along Sunset Drive laying pipe in a trench there when the accident occurred.”
Price Gregory International is a leading provider of infrastructure services with focus on pipeline construction and related services. The Company was formed through the merger of H.C. Price and Gregory & Cook Construction, two of the largest contractors with the equipment and capability to build large diameter pipelines. The work is part of $2.5 billion Florida Gas Transmission Company project to expand its existing natural gas pipe system to meet the growing energy needs of the Gulf Coast and Florida. The current portion of the project involves more than 450 miles of pipeline being installed in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida with more than 350 miles parallel to existing pipeline.
Lambert said Johnson was working on the job in an area where machinery was laying pipe in a prepared trench at the scene. Johnson was struck by a section of 36-inch pipe that caused his injuries and subsequent death.
“Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene,” Lambert said. “Everything remains under investigation.”
Lambert said deputies with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Department and officers the Atmore and Poarch police departments responded to the scene along with Atmore Fire Department personnel. Personnel with Atmore Ambulance Service were also called to the scene. Poarch Fire Department was paged out to the scene, but their services were not needed as they were canceled while en route.
Publisher Adam Prestridge contributed to this story.
- Emergency personnel oversee the sight where a gas pipeline worker was killed Thurday afternoon on East Sunset Drive.| Photo by Adam Prestridge
I wanted to let the family and people involved that are crew is thinking of family and all involved and are prays are there for yall.If anyone knows about donations please leave a comment and all info Than you
The Brooks family would like to let the family of Steven Mark Johnson that we are praying for you. My husband had the pleasure of working with him in Birmingham. My God bless and keep. local 559 Birmingham al,
Steven(aka shorty) was a great man! Steven and myself spoke daily. We worked together on the same crew and I was there when he passed away. He was a wonderful friend , a head worker and last but not least he loved his family dearly as he spoke of them everyday. He will be greatly missed . I will never forget Steven (shorty)
I WOULD LIKE THE FAMILY TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE IN MY PRAYERS.I DID NOT KNOW STEVE PERSONALLY, BUT I DO KNOW PART OF HIS FAMILY. AND BY KNOWING THE ONES I DO I KNOW HE HAD TO HAVE BEEN A GOOD MAN.TO THE FAMILY I WOULD LIKE TO SAY LOOK TO THE LORD FOR YOUR STRENTH AND HE WILL GUIDE U AND SEE YOU ALL THROUGH.