One worker died and another was injured in an accident on Monday, Feb. 25 at approximately 3 p.m. at the "Brace West" pad located at 1165 Brussel Road, Carrollton, in Washington Twp.
According to the Carroll County Sheriff Department's incident report, Abdal L. Audeh, 28, of Dover, and Alex R. Cox, 20, of Cadiz, were attaching long-handled tongs used to manipulate pipe on the drilling rig when they apparently lost control of the apparatus, which swung around, striking Audeh across his back.
Cox, who sustained a head laceration when he fell backwards on the rig, told investigators he and Audeh had forgotten to hook up a safety line, called a "snub line," which would have prevented the tongs from swinging completely around.
Paramedics performed CPR on Audeh at the scene and transported him to Aultman Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at approximately 5:20 p.m.
Cox was treated and released at Mercy Medical Center.
Results from an autopsy performed by the Stark County coroner on Tuesday have not been released. This is the first fatality related to drilling activity in Carroll County.
The Brace site is operated by R.E. Gas Development, a subsidiary of Rex Energy Corporation. In a statement released on Tuesday, company officials said, "Rex Energy remains in communication with the authorities, has preserved the location and will fully cooperate in the investigation of this tragic incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this time."
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