May 11, 2000

MEDIA ADVISORY - METRO WEST WATER SUPPLY TUNNEL ACCIDENT

This morning at 11:00 a.m. the passenger trolley in the MetroWest Water Supply Tunnel construction project collided with a locomotive delivering concrete to a work site inside the tunnel. The accident occurred 400 feet underground approximately under Water Street in the western part of Framingham.

Our reports are that nine people were injured, one seriously. The seriously injured worker was a Local 4 locomotive operator. He was evacuated to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. All of the other involved individuals have left the tunnel via the central access shaft at the former New England Sand and Gravel property in Framingham.

Six were taken to either Leonard Morse Hospital in Natick or Framingham Union Hospital for treatment or observation of minor injuries. The evacuation was conducted by units of the Framingham Fire Department that have been trained, equipped and drilled in tunnel rescue procedures as part of the safety program for the project.