Tragic APS Crane Accident Claims Life of Father in Phoenix
- PHOENIX - A family is seeking answers after the death of Mike Olver, a husband and father of four, in a crane accident at an APS power plant...
- On November 7, his wife, Jenny, received an unexpected phone call from her supervisor.
- She expressed her frustration, stating, “We stood outside the plant and wanted somebody to speak to us.
Family Frustrated After APS Plant Accident
PHOENIX – A family is seeking answers after the death of Mike Olver, a husband and father of four, in a crane accident at an APS power plant near Phoenix. Olver worked as a contractor and was assigned to a 10-day project at the Redhawk Power Plant.
On November 7, his wife, Jenny, received an unexpected phone call from her supervisor. Jenny recalled, “He didn’t know anything about the accident. I thought maybe he broke his arm.” After much waiting and uncertainty, she learned the tragic news.
Olver’s daughter, Brianna, flew to Arizona immediately. She expressed her frustration, stating, “We stood outside the plant and wanted somebody to speak to us. Nobody would give us any information. It’s hard to grieve when you don’t know what happened.”
The family, living north of San Francisco, stated that Olver had 25 years of experience in the industry. Brianna explained, “He was a valve machinist. He could build, repair, and replace valves in any capacity.” Recently, he had worked multiple times at the Redhawk Power Plant.
Arizona state officials are investigating the accident. APS released a statement mourning Olver’s death and assuring that the incident did not affect plant operations, the public, or other workers. They added, “An investigation is underway. The safety of our crews and customers will always be a top priority for APS.”
Jenny emphasized the need for urgency in the investigation, stating, “We would like to know what happened and what can be done to prevent it in the future.” A celebration of life for Mike Olver is scheduled for November 20.