A Texas truck stop was the scene of a dramatic rescue early today after a trucker fell dozens of feet down an open manhole while walking behind the property.
The incident was reported around 1:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 11, at the Love’s Truck Stop off of I-45 in north Houston, according to a report from ABC 13.
Wow! Our *FIRST* look inside the 30-foot manhole a man fell into in North Houston this morning. A firefighter went down to rescue him. He’s expected to be OK. @KPRC2 #kprc2 pic.twitter.com/GkkUoJuPKb
— KPRC Cathy Hernandez (@KPRC2Cathy) December 11, 2018
Houston police say that a semi truck driver was walking around a wooded area behind the truck stop when he dropped his cell phone into an open manhole. When the trucker attempted to retrieve his phone, he also fell into the manhole, tumbling 20 to 30 feet into the sewer below.
Another truck driver saw the man fall into the manhole and alerted authorities.
@HoustonFire just finished a manhole rescue. Male was walking in a wooded area behind a truck stop when he fell into an uncovered manhole. The male was awake and talking to firefighters when he was transported. pic.twitter.com/WDorLN3TIu
— Jack Reale (@OnsceneTV_642) December 11, 2018
Rescue crews were able to lower a firefighter down into the manhole to rescue the fallen truck driver.
Authorities say that the truck driver suffered a few broken bones in the fall, but he is expected to be okay. He is currently recovering in the hospital.
MAN FELL INTO AN OPEN MANHOLE….and survived! Someone just happened to see him drop and called 911. He fell about 20 feet. Happened behind Love’s truck stop. Recovering in the hospital this morning. Incredible rescue video coming up at 5:30 on #abc13 pic.twitter.com/K9wlrtggGb
— Courtney Fischer (@CourtneyABC13) December 11, 2018
The manhole has since been covered up with wood to prevent anyone else from falling in.
You can see video of the dramatic rescue below.