One person was injured and had to be rescued after being knocked into an unfinished basement by an excavator at a construction site early Friday morning, officials said.
Lake Forest Fire Department Battalion Chief Erik Kositzki, who served as incident commander, said rescuers were called to the 200 block of West Westminster Avenue at 8:59 a.m. Friday, for a report that someone had fallen into an unfinished basement at a construction site.
Kositzki said the 69-year-old male victim had been hit from behind by the counterweight of an excavator, knocking him into the unfinished basement.
Due to the extent of the injuries, the victim was unable to get up and climb out of the basement, Kositzki said.
Technical rescue crews from the Lake Forest, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods, and Lake Bluff fire departments were called in and used a rescue basket and a ladder truck to pull the victim out of the unfinished basement.
The victim was then transported to Lake Forest Hospital in stable condition, Kositzki said.
No other injuries were reported by bystanders or firefighters.
Rescue workers were cleared from the scene at about 10:05 a.m.
Kositzki said Countryside and Mundelein fire departments also assisted the Lake Forest Fire Department by providing station coverage and ambulances.