Remembering D.I.Y. Dave

During the spring of 2022, Dave decided to give his property a facelift by redesigning his landscape and installing a sprinkler system. So, Dave gets out his handy sketch pad, measuring tape, and pencil and starts to create his newest project.

After completing all his drawings and sketches, he decides what is the best “look” for his house. He begins by installing the sprinkler system. Dave runs to the hardware store and gathers all the piping, glue, sprinkler heads, and tools needed for this task. Next, he stops at the local rental center to rent a trencher for ditching the areas for the sprinkler system.

It is a beautiful spring day and he begins trenching the area. Unbeknownst to Dave, there is a 4-inch gas pipeline that runs through his property. Trencher in hand, hat on head and beer in the cooler, off he goes. His neighbors are watching him through their windows and amazed at the pace he was working. As Dave was trenching the front property along the road he got a quick glance of yellow plastic, like material coming up with the tines. That was the last moment of DIY Dave’s projects as he had struck the 4-inch poly gas line and the engine of the trencher ignited it. Neighbors witnessed the horror of Dave being burned and called for emergency responders.

Dave was taken to the local hospital where they stabilized his condition for transport to a burn unit in a neighboring town. While being treated with third degree burns on his chest and face, the investigators came to investigate the incident. Dave did his best to explain what happened but since he was on a respirator, he could only write a few sentences on a whiteboard.

The investigation ended the day Dave died from his injuries, but it was clear that Dave did not follow all the safety rules for his work. He never called 811 to have the underground utilities marked on his property.

Dave’s house sold a couple months later to a nice couple who had children and appreciated the size of the yard that came with the house. They proceeded to have upgrades performed on the house and landscape but the one thing that they did and required of their contractor was to call 811 at least two days prior to the work beginning. They had heard what happened to Dave and learned from his mistake.

One life lost for not calling 811 and his incident is still talked about in that neighborhood. The Home Owners Association requested someone from the gas company who explained to them what “811 Call Before You Dig” is, and amended the HOA rules to require an 811 call prior to any excavations in the neighborhood.