City employee injured on the job
By Tim Barnum
News Editor | news@ogemawherald.com
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WEST BRANCH — An employee of the city of West Branch Department of Public Works suffered minor injuries Sept. 19 after a tree limb fell on him while he was working.
Ogemaw County Sheriff Howie Hanft, who assisted ambulance on the scene, said Larry Greer was the injured DPW worker. Hanft said the incident caused some back soreness to Greer, but no major damage.
“He seemed alright,” he said.
According to DPW Superintendent Denis Jameson, DPW workers were attempting to locate a water line at the scene, which was the corner of south Livingston Street and West Houghton Avenue in West Branch.
To locate the line, Jameson said workers were using a “vactor,” which is used at times to find items underground instead of a backhoe, as it leaves a smaller imprint where the crew was working.
“We were looking for a water line at Gene Seidel’s and we do that all the time with the vactor,” he said. “All that happened was the chute hit a dead limb and it fell and hit him on the back.”
Ogemaw County EMS responded to the incident, which occurred at approximately 2:10 p.m. Greer was transported to West Branch Regional Medical Center, where he would receive X-rays on the injury, Jameson said.
West Branch City Manager Tom Youatt said the city’s insurance would cover the incident.
Check back for more details.