DeKalb County

Worker killed after being trapped in 16-foot-deep trench

By Richard Elliot, WSB-TV
By Richard Elliot, WSB-TV

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — The investigation into what caused a trench to collapse on a worker and killing him, is now in the hands of OSHA.

Rescue crews were called out to a subdivision construction site Friday afternoon along Winmire Lane in DeKalb County after crews said a 16-foot trench collapsed on top of a the worker.

Firefighters told Channel 2's Richard Elliot that the man was helping to guide a backhoe as it dug the trench and the ground gave way, trapping the construction worker inside.

"The ground below him caved in and he fell into the hole. The hole was about 16 feet deep and about two feet of dirt on each side of the hole fell on top of the victim and covered him up," said Capt. Dion Bentley with DeKalb Fire Rescue

Trench collapse rescue underway in DeKalb County

JUST IN: Sources have confirmed to Channel 2's Richard Elliot on the scene that the worker is dead and this is now a recovery effort. ----- DEVELOPING: Crews are trying to rescue a worker who was buried in a 25-foot trench when it collapsed in DeKalb County. LIVE coverage from the scene on Channel 2 Action News starting at 4 p.m. https://2wsb.tv/2IX43ex

Posted by WSB-TV on Friday, April 26, 2019

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Firefighters told Elliot two other construction workers at the site tried to rescue the victim when it first happened.

Investigators told Elliot that there was no trench box inside the hole when the collapse happened. Crews said that was because no one was working inside the trench when the collapse happened. It is unclear if that violates OSHA rules.

So far, firefighters have not released the name of the man killed. Crews hope to have the man’s body removed from the trench shortly.

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