This unfortunate maintenance contractor found himself trapped 130 feet up inside a truck stop sign for almost six hours.
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Have you ever observed one of those massive gas station signs at truck stops and wondered how maintenance is performed on such structures? I have an answer for you—along with what might become your new source of anxiety. It turns out that they use a little lift to cheat, and sometimes, that lift just decides not to cooperate.
As for me, I wouldn’t climb one of those structures without extreme pressure, so I commend the individuals who dare to scale such heights for the sake of a burnt-out light bulb. Today, I’ll be tipping my hat a bit longer for the man who spent nearly six hours trapped inside a Petro shopping center sign in Wilmington, Illinois this past week.
The maintenance worker used the sign’s lift to access the top of the 130-foot sign at the Lorenzo Road exit off Interstate 55 on Tuesday. At around 11:30 a.m. local time, he called for assistance after realizing he couldn’t descend. Police and fire units arrived quickly, but little progress was made until nearly 4:00 p.m. when responders were finally able to rescue him from the cramped enclosure.
Worker stuck 100 feet on Illinois gas station sign
According to the local fire department, the delay stemmed from straightforward mathematics. The sign stands 130 feet tall, while the department’s tallest ladders extend to about 100 feet—creating a gap equivalent to a 2-1/2 story house. Additionally, the worker was safe and relatively calm, so while there was urgency in his retrieval, it wasn’t a dire situation. He even gave a thumbs-up to a passing news helicopter.
Rescue teams eventually obtained a lift from a construction site in Joliet, located approximately 25 minutes away. As reported by Chicago’s ABC 7, the contractor was physically unharmed and declined treatment on the scene. Based on discussions in a private Facebook group, it seems he maintained a positive attitude throughout the ordeal. Better him than me!
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This unfortunate maintenance contractor found himself trapped 130 feet up inside a truck stop sign for almost six hours.
Have you ever thought about how individuals manage to climb those massive truck stop signs? You could use a tall ladder, or you could take a shortcut with a lift... until it malfunctions.