Updated: Police Expect Second Worker to Make Full Recovery

after in Fenton Township near Prices Airport and another man is expected to make a full recovery, police said.

Genesee County Sheriff's Deparment Capt. Terrance Green said that the men, who were contracted sewer workers. Green said they were working on a Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) project on the sanitary sewer lines when one man fell and his co-worker went in to rescue him and also fell. It is believed the men may not have been wearing the proper safety equipment.

Green said the Nix Construction worker, Joseph Filpansick, 27, of Vienna Township, was interviewed by detectives at the Genesys Regional Medical Center.

"He was awake and alert and looks like he'll be able to make a full recovery," Green said.

The Fenton Press reported the deceased man has been identified as Ron Utica, 46, who was an employee of Bender and Pociask, a Tecumseh-based construction company.

Green said detectives are working with Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Act (MIOSHA) investigators.

Fenton Township Battalion Chief Ryan Volz told Fenton Patch one sewer worker fell 25 feet through a manhole and was unconscious for at least 15 minutes before rescue crews arrived. He said a co-worker, attempting to rescue him, was overcome by the powerful fumes of the sewer gas about 4:30 p.m. and was "pretty disoriented" when taken away by ambulance. Officials said both men were face down in the water when rescued.

Linden Police officer Gary Conklin descended into the hole before Fenton Township firefighters arrived and turned the men over so their faces were not in the water. Conklin had to be put on oxygen after exiting the manhole.

Fenton Township Firefighters brought both men from the hole by wrapping them in rope with a harness and pulling them out. They were taken to Genesys Regional Medical Center. 

"Sewer gas isn't good," Volz said.

The manhole is on Horizon Lakes Boulevard off of Silver Lake Road.