Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on December 2, 1970.
High Winds Topple Wall
Hurt As Wall Falls
Edward J. Koutsky, 54, of Portage, injured Tuesday when cement blocks toppled on him as he was working at the Kroger Family Center site, was listed in guarded condition today at Porter Memorial Hospital where he is in the intensive care unit.
Koutsky and his son-in-law, Ronald Pearce, 30, of Portage, were working at the site between East Chicago Street and Lincolnway east of Roosevelt when high winds forced over a 15-foot portion of a 30-foot high wall.
Pearce suffered minor leg injuries, police said, when attempting to come to the assistance of Koutsky when he saw the wall beginning to fall.
Koutsky, who was on a ladder attempting to brace the wall, was buried in the mud when the blocks fell, police said.
Developer of the complex is Trebor, Inc., headed by Robert J. and Dolores Cooke, of Portage.
High winds Tuesday apparently caused a 15-foot portion of a wall to collapse, seriously injuring Edward Koutsky, 54, of Portage, who was working at Kroger complex site on East Chicago Street near Roosevelt. Koutsky was attempting to shore wall when wind toppled cement blocks.
