MIAMI TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WXIX) – Police are considering charges after one person died and two others were injured in a trench collapse in Miami Township.
Officers are considering charges of reckless homicide and negligent assault in connection with the incident that occurred Friday near 1187 Valley Forge Drive, according to a Miami Township Police Report.
Miami Township Fire Chief Dave Jetter says the two survivors were rescued after six hours of emergency crews digging them out of a 20-foot hole.
Three men were installing corrugated pipe in someone’s yard as part of a drainage project when the trench suddenly collapsed around 3:30 p.m., sending mud and earth crashing down on them.
Three men are trapped after a trench collapsed while attempting to install piping.(WXIX)
“Upon arrival, we found three victims in the trench. One of the gentlemen who may have witnessed the trench collapse was trying to dig them out,” said Jetter.
The 20-foot deep trench that had collapsed was too unsafe for firefighters to immediately start digging, Jetter said. Instead, they provided oxygen and heated blankets to the men trapped inside — one fully submerged and unconscious, two more awake but half buried.
“Having to wait for other resources to come either to those that are already in the trench or those trying to help is certainly painstaking,” Jetter said.
Trench collapse investigation, police say deadly incident could be result of negligence
It took around 40 minutes for backup to arrive with the equipment they used to dig.
“They had panels to push the soil away so it doesn’t collapse in the area where the victims are. They have a couple members in with shovels, they lower buckets in to get what they collect, and they put it away,” Jetter said.
Emergency crews worked bucket by bucket, getting everyone uncovered. By 6 p.m., they knew the man who was previously completely submerged had died.
“He was not talking so we couldn’t tell you if he was breathing or not. We provided care nonetheless, hoping for a better result,” Jetter said.
By 7 p.m., they had freed one of the victims, who was taken away to be treated for possible hypothermia. After six hours of work, they had both survivors out, though the second survivor was in critical condition.
“We do have a confirmation of a lower leg injury, hypothermia; he’s going to be transported to University Hospital,” Jetter said.
Fire officials said when they arrived, the hole was wide open with no support systems in place. The men were not working on any township project or utilities. OSHA is on scene to investigate what happened.
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