Drilling Company Worker Dies at Oklahoma Site

Authorities are investigating the death of a drilling company employee at a site near Eldorado.

The accident occurred Thursday afternoon at a site owned by Big Giant Drilling. Jackson County Sheriff Roger Levick told the Altus Times the man was identified as 34-year-old Cecil Haley of Electra, Texas.

Officials say Haley was on a construction elevator about 95 feet in the air, connecting two 1,600-pound pipes. They say the pressure of the pipes caused some of the supporting equipment to bend, which sent one of the pipes back toward Haley.

He was hit in the face and killed on impact.

Levick says the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the accident.

A number for Big Giant Drilling, listed in Archer City, Texas, rang unanswered on Sunday.