Rig rolls over near Marble Falls, spills chemicals, stalls traffic
FROM STAFF REPORTS
MARBLE FALLS — A platform drilling rig failed to stop at the T-intersection of RR 1174 and RR 1431 on July 3, causing it to roll over into a ditch, spill part of its drilling chemicals and stall traffic for several hours just outside the city, officials said.
The incident happened around 1:30 p.m. about seven miles east of Marble Falls.
“It was a big vehicle. He was coming to the stop sign while on 1174 and couldn’t stop,” said Marble Falls Volunteer Fire Department Chief Mike Phillips. “He kind of turned and flipped the vehicle over.”
The rig landed next to a water runoff area in an embankment and required two wrecker trucks to upright it.
“We had the big wreckers and had to get a front-end loader,” Phillips said. “(The vehicle) had a large tank of drilling liquid.(The Texas Department of Transportation) used a front-end loader to absorb the oil.”
Crews transported the driver to Seton Highland Lakes in Burnet by ambulance with injuries to his foot or ankle area, he said.
No other injuries were reported.
editor@thepicayune.com