Lizzie Kunde
Area Man's Back Crushed in Accident
PORT O'CONNOR - A Seadrift man was killed early Monday morning in an accident at the Brown and Root Docks in Port O'Connor, according to John Ideus, Calhoun County Sheriff's Department investigator.
Jerry Richard Madden, 42, was killed about 2 a.m. when his back was crushed by a spreader bar while unloading 40-foot drill pipes from a supply boat at the Brown and Root dock. The boom carrying the spreader bar was operated by Gary Rice, 26, of Port O'Connor.
Justice of the Peace Chris Taylor ruled at the scene that the death was accidental and an autopsy was ordered. "We're not sure whether it was caused by a mechanical problem or operator error," Ideus said. "It's still under investigation." Paul Justice, public relations manager from Brown and Root's Houston office, said the accident was under company investigation as well. "We want to know what happened." Justice said. "Carl Richardson, our safety officer is in Port O'Connor to investigate the accident."
Madden was employed as a light equipment operator and had worked for Brown and Root since Oct. 9, 1981. Born Aug. 1, 1943, he was a lifelong resident of Seadrift except for 1964-1968 when he served in the U.S. Navy.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Seadrift First Baptist Church with the Rev. Joe Dufner officiating. Burial will follow at Seadrift Cemetery under the direction of Richardson Funeral Home. He is survived by his wife, Twyla Diotup Mauven, two sons, Martin and Kevin Madden; his parents, James H. and Edith See Madden, all of Seadrift; two sisters, Joyce Bradshaw of Freeport and Jackie Hamilton of Seguin; and two brothers, Jimmie Madden of North Dakota and Johnny Madden of Conroe.
Victoria Advocate (Victoria, Texas) Tuesday, October 22, 1985
Jerry Richard Madden, 42, was killed about 2 a.m. when his back was crushed by a spreader bar while unloading 40-foot drill pipes from a supply boat at the Brown and Root dock. The boom carrying the spreader bar was operated by Gary Rice, 26, of Port O'Connor.
Justice of the Peace Chris Taylor ruled at the scene that the death was accidental and an autopsy was ordered. "We're not sure whether it was caused by a mechanical problem or operator error," Ideus said. "It's still under investigation." Paul Justice, public relations manager from Brown and Root's Houston office, said the accident was under company investigation as well. "We want to know what happened." Justice said. "Carl Richardson, our safety officer is in Port O'Connor to investigate the accident."
Madden was employed as a light equipment operator and had worked for Brown and Root since Oct. 9, 1981. Born Aug. 1, 1943, he was a lifelong resident of Seadrift except for 1964-1968 when he served in the U.S. Navy.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Seadrift First Baptist Church with the Rev. Joe Dufner officiating. Burial will follow at Seadrift Cemetery under the direction of Richardson Funeral Home. He is survived by his wife, Twyla Diotup Mauven, two sons, Martin and Kevin Madden; his parents, James H. and Edith See Madden, all of Seadrift; two sisters, Joyce Bradshaw of Freeport and Jackie Hamilton of Seguin; and two brothers, Jimmie Madden of North Dakota and Johnny Madden of Conroe.
Victoria Advocate (Victoria, Texas) Tuesday, October 22, 1985
