A sewer line trench collapse at a retail development project in the Kenosha County town of Somers claims the life of a private contract worker.
Fire and rescue personnel were dispatched to initial reports of a man in his mid-40s stuck in about a 10-foot trench, but alert and yelling as co-workers tried to get him out. Somers Fire Chief Steve Crowsey says they were able to talk with the man as efforts to reach and free him continued. But, at the same time, dirt and debris continued to fall into the trench on top of him.
The man was found unresponsive nearly two hours later, turning the effort into one of recovery. Trench recovery units from departments as far away as northern Illinois were called into assist. Multiple investigations are underway, including the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department, the Medical Examiners Office, and OSHA.
