Worker rescued after being stranded 130 feet atop Ill. highway sign

A malfunctioning boom lift left a maintenance worker trapped for hours inside a towering gas station sign

August 01, 2026 08:00 AM

By Chris Pugh
cleveland.com

WILMINGTON, Ill. — A worker was rescued after spending several hours stranded roughly 130 feet above the ground inside a highway gas station sign in northeastern Illinois when the lift he was using malfunctioned, prompting a technical rescue involving multiple agencies and specialized equipment, according to People. The incident happened Tuesday in Wilmington, about 60 miles southwest of Chicago, abc7chicago.com reported.

Fire officials said the worker had been performing maintenance on the elevated sign when the telescopic boom lift he was using stopped working, leaving him unable to descend, WKRC reported. The Wilmington Fire Protection District was dispatched around 2 p.m., several hours after the man became trapped. Responders quickly determined that conventional rescue methods would not be sufficient because of the height and the structure of the sign.

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According to fire officials, the sign did not contain an internal ladder that would have allowed the worker to climb down on his own. Local fire department aerial ladders also fell short of the approximately 130-foot height needed to safely reach him, forcing emergency crews to look for alternative rescue options.

Members of the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Division 15 Technical Rescue Team joined the response and located a taller lift in nearby Joliet. Illinois State Police escorted the specialized equipment to the scene so rescuers could quickly position it and reach the stranded worker.

Rescuers successfully brought the worker safely to the ground at about 4 p.m. He was evaluated by emergency medical personnel at the scene but declined additional treatment. Officials said he did not suffer injuries during the ordeal.

Deputy Chief Todd Friddle of the Wilmington Fire Protection District said the rescue required an unconventional approach because of the unusual circumstances but credited the coordinated response for the successful outcome. Officials said everyone involved in the operation returned home safely without injury.

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