UI Worker Killed While On Repair Job Technician Was Working On Cooling System In Engineering Building

A University of Idaho employee was killed Thursday while trying to repair a large air intake fan on campus.

Police believe technician Joel Crisp, of Colfax, died instantly when he became entangled in the heating and cooling system.

He was working on one of four 4-foot-wide fans used for air intake and recirculation in the mechanical room at the top of the Gauss-Johnson Engineering Building.

Flags on campus flew at half-staff as faculty, staff and trade shop employees mourned the loss of Crisp, who was 43. He is survived by his wife and three sons, as well as his father and a sister. UI officials said they were pleased to hire Crisp onto the heating-ventilation-air conditioning crew about a year ago. He was highly skilled, with at least 10 years experience.

His supervisor, Ken White, said Crisp brought congeniality to the job as well. He was well-liked by co-workers and those who came in contact with him through the service calls he made around campus.

“He is going to be missed sincerely by everyone in the shop and on campus who knew him,’ White said. “It’s a horrible thing to lose anyone, and someone as great of a guy as Joel … it’s even more difficult.”

Crisp had responded to the Gauss-Johnson Engineering Building late Thursday after a service call came in about widely fluctuating temperatures in the newly remodeled building.

When Crisp didn’t return to Colfax on time or answer his cell phone, his wife called university officials. Crisp’s body was discovered by a co-worker.

“The police suggested there was nothing to indicate it was anything other than a very tragic industrial accident,” said UI spokeswoman Kathy Barnard. “This is the first time in the memory of anyone here that we have lost anyone on the job.”

As with all job-related industrial accidents, the university’s safety office and state insurance fund will also conduct investigations.

A rededication of the new building, scheduled to take place Friday, was rescheduled for next fall.

The UI’s top administrators were attending a State Board of Education meeting in Idaho Falls when the accident occurred.

“The entire University of Idaho community shares the grief of Joel’s family and friends,” UI President Bob Hoover said in a prepared statement. “We are working with Joel’s family and co-workers to provide them with all of the counseling and other resources we have to offer,” said Jerry Wallace, vice president for finance and administration.

Bruning Funeral Home in Colfax is handling arrangements.

IDAHO HEADLINE: UI worker killed on repair job