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February 4, 2025

UPDATE: Emergency rescue at Turner County Courthouse

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – Emergency crews have responded to the Turner County Courthouse Tuesday morning and rescued a worker from falling into a hole. 

On Monday, demolition crews started work on tearing down the courthouse building. 

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Former Turner County Sheriff Byron Nogelmeier told KELOLAND News a man working in an excavator started to sink into a hole where debris was on site. Nogelmeier told KELOLAND News the man was rescued from the hole.

You can see firefighters on scene from KELOLAND’s Parker Live Cam.

The county has plans to build a new $19 million courthouse in the same location, but county officials say that’ll take at least a year and a half.

A statement was also sent to KELOLAND News by Journey Construction, the company overseeing the project.

The statement reads: “This morning at approximately 10 AM an incident at the Turner County Courthouse demolition project occurred in which an excavator tipped and was pinned against an existing interior wall.

First responders were called and able to successfully assist the operator in exiting the excavator. He was evaluated and was released by medical personnel. 

Journey Construction site leaders are in control of the site and investigating the incident,”

This is a developing story. Stay with KELOLAND News for more updates on-air and online.