Worker hospitalized after Athens construction site mishap

By Joe Johnson

A construction worker was hospitalized this morning after he fell into heavy machinery at aconstruction site near Atlanta Highway,

The victim was part of a crew that is building a new exit ramp from the Athens Perimeter.

He reportedly fell into an aggregate placer for laying concrete and became entangled in the machine’s auger.

Th rescue operation was described as being very complex that was led by a fire rescue team and took over two hours to free the victim and rush him to the hospital.

“Due to the nature of the entrapment, a specialized medical team consisting of surgeons, an anesthesiologist, and nurses from Piedmont Athens Regional MedicalCenter responded to the scene to provide assistance during the extrication,” said Capt. Kevin Kearney, spokesman for the Athens-Clarke County Fire Department.

The victim’s name and condition were not immediately available..