Worker Dies After Trench Collapse in California
An excavation crew member was trapped for hours before being pronounced dead at the scene.
A trench collapse in Hickman, California, on Friday morning resulted in the death of a worker who was trapped underground for several hours. The incident occurred approximately five miles east of Hickman Road and Lake Road, according to the Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District.
More than 30 firefighters responded to the scene after reports of the worker being trapped. Upon arrival, crews found that a large trench had collapsed while workers were present. Firefighters and technical rescue personnel worked for several hours in an attempt to free the individual. The victim was eventually recovered but was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Photos from the incident showed numerous first responders gathered around the sizable trench. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, Stanislaus County C.E.R.T., Denair Lumber, Waterford Subway, and Cal/OSHA also provided assistance at the scene. The rescue operation lasted nearly five hours.
The identity of the deceased worker has not been released, and the cause of the trench collapse is currently under investigation. Cal/OSHA is looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident to determine if workplace health and safety regulations were followed. Hickman is a small farming community located in Stanislaus County.