A 27-year-old man, formerly of Staples, was hit in the head with a 100 pound metal hook May 20 in an oil field rig accident in Wyoming.

Justin Worden was hospitalized at Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, Wyoming. The accident happened about 27 miles south of Gillette. “A metal pipe fell at least 25 feet from a rig.” Campbell County Sheriffs Lt. Eric Seeman said.

“A four foot long, 100 pound hook attached to the pipe hit Worden in the head. His neck was soaked in blood, he was missing several teeth and he had several scratches on his head. Worden had been wearing a hard hat.” Seeman said.

The rig is owned by Citation Oil and Gas Corp, with company’s corporate headquarters in Huston.

A spokesman for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said the accident is under investigation.

Justin, better known as Boone, is the son of Robert Worden of South Dakota and Barbara Burrows of Wyoming. He is the grandson of Don and Mary Burrows of Staples and Alice Eskro of Crystal.