By Amy Batista, Special Writer
CRANBURY — A construction worker from the Rock Solid Construction Company found himself stuck on a concrete slab site at the Brainerd Lake Bridge on Main Street and unable to walk Wednesday morning.
"The victim indicated he lifted something heavy, then he climbed down a ladder," said Cranbury Police Chief Rickey Varga. "After a while, he was unable to walk."
According to police, the accident occurred at 8:06 a.m. at the Brainerd Lake Bridge on Main Street.
Robert C. Yale, 44, of Newark was approximately 15 to 20 feet (below the street) on a concrete slab when the incident took place, police said.
"At around 8:20 this morning, Station 48 was dispatched to the area of the Brainerd Lake Dam for a technical rescue assignment," said Cranbury Volunteer Fire Company Chief Michael Kervan. "A construction worker had a medical emergency while working below grade at the construction site."
Chief Varga noted the challenge at the time was "getting him safely lifted up from the dam basin deck to the ambulance."
Firefighters and EMT’s went down and secured the patient into the Stokes basket while crews topside set up to raise the patient up and out, Chief Kervan said.
"The patient was extricated successfully and transferred to EMS for transport," he said.
Mr. Yale was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton for a lower back injury by Cranbury EMS, police said.
The Cranbury Police Department, Cranbury Volunteer Fire Company, Hightstown Engine Co. No. 1, East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, East Windsor Volunteer Fire Company No. 2, Plainsboro Fire Company, and Monroe Township Fire District #2, Cranbury EMS, and Capital Health Systems paramedics responded to the scene to assist with the incident.
Main Street was closed at the Brainerd Lake Bridge during the rescue effort for approximately 20 minutes.
"Emergency services worked together and expeditiously to render aid and safely extract Mr. Yale from the dam basin," Chief Varga said. "It was a team effort. All hands on deck."
The dam improvement project has been ongoing for several months.

