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Man dies in rig accident

Staff report

A Grand Junction man working on an oil rig north of Parachute was killed around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, after having been struck on the back of the head with a blunt object, according to Garfield County deputy coroner Thomas Walton.

Shane Hill, 34, of Grand Junction, was working on a Cyclone rig for WPX Energy when the accident occurred.

“He was struck by a fitting that blew off part of the rig,” Walton said.



OSHA, (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) investigated the accident on Wednesday and Thursday. The Bureau of Land Management and the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission were also notified.

Cyclone will be required to file a report to the COGCC by Monday.



The rig was drilling for federal minerals on private property.

Calls to Cyclone Drilling were not immediately returned.


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