YARMOUTH — A construction worker was killed and two others were rescued this morning after a trench collapsed at a sewer construction site on South Shore Drive, according to town and fire officials.
In a statement, the Town of Yarmouth said it is “heartbroken by today’s tragic trench collapse on South Shore Drive. One life was lost, and two others were rescued.”
According to a press release from the Yarmouth Fire Department, the collapse was reported at about 8:50 a.m. at 152 South Shore Drive, adjacent to Parker’s River Beach. A Yarmouth police detail officer at the site called in the incident, initially reporting that several people were trapped.
Yarmouth fire dispatched all on-duty personnel, recalled the rest of the department, and requested the Barnstable County Technical Rescue Team, as well as mutual aid for station coverage due to the expected length of the operation.
The first units arrived on scene at about 8:55 a.m. and found three workers in the trench: one who had managed to get out on his own, a second buried up to his waist, and a third who was completely entrapped. Crews began rescue operations immediately.
Fire officials said the second worker was freed at about 12:20 p.m., evaluated at the scene, and transported by Boston MedFlight to Rhode Island Hospital. Rescue operations then rescued the third worker, who was removed from the trench at about 2:45 p.m. after succumbing to his injuries.
The town extended “our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the man who passed, and our thoughts are with those recovering from this devastating event,” and thanked first responders who “responded with extraordinary courage and care.”
The incident remains under investigation.
