Maintenance worker dies in pipe

Phoenix police are investigating an accident in Ahwatukee Foothills that claimed the life of an air-conditioning maintenance worker Wednesday afternoon.

Lt. Mark Tallman said a worker was cleaning out an air return pipe underneath a home in the 15800 block of South 26th Place when he apparently got stuck and died.

"It looks like the company worker went head-first into the pipe and got stuck," Tallman said. "Hours later, a fellow worker found the man's feet sticking out of the pipe and attempted to pull him out."

Tallman said firefighters were needed to get the man out and by then he was dead.

Police would only say the man was a Hispanic male in his 30s.

An investigation will take place to make sure there was no foul play, Tallman said.