Trench collapse traps men
GROVE CITY — Federal workplace safety officials are investigating a trench collapse Wednesday that buried a worker up to his shoulders in dirt for 90 minutes at a home in the borough, authorities said.
The middle-aged man, who was not immediately identified, was later flown to a Pittsburgh hospital with crush-type injuries to his legs and pelvis and unknown shoulder injuries.
“He was in a lot of pain but he remained conscious throughout the ordeal,” said Bill Finley Jr., who heads the Mercer County Technical Rescue Team, which is trained in trench collapse rescue.
A second man, also believed to be in his 40s or 50s, was in the same trench digging for a sewer line when it caved in about 1:45 p.m. at George Junior Road and Carrie Way.
The second man was buried nearly up to his knees. Other workers for the private company in charge of the sewer line project were able to dig him out in about 15 minutes, rescuers said. He escaped with only minor injuries.
Assisting the county’s technical rescue team were firefighters from Grove City, Pine and Springfield townships, and the Mercer East End Volunteer Fire Department.
Finley also serves as chief of the East End VFD.
Along with shovels, crews used pneumatic panels to equalize pressure in the 8-foot deep, 30-foot long trench, Finely said. The tubular panels are filled with air, which neutralizes the ground pressure to prevent any further collapse.
Crews talked almost constantly with the trapped man, keeping him informed about the rescue procedure and trying to buoy his spirits.
“We put a paramedic inside the trench with him so we could give him an IV (intravenous) and pain medication,” Finley said.
The IV drip was employed to minimize the man’s risk of suffering a heart attack, Finley said.
Ninety-one minutes after getting the emergency call, rescuers eased the man out of the trench and onto a stretcher.
A medical helicopter flew him to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.
