MINNEAPOLIS — A construction worker is being checked out by doctors after being trapped for two and a half hours in a collapsed trench on a downtown Minneapolis construction site.
A 911 call came in just after 8 a.m. Monday reporting the incident, and fire rescue crews scrambled to the site near the intersection of Park and Washington Avenues next to the Old Spaghetti Factory.
Minneapolis Assistant Fire Chief Todd White says the man was working in a trench when it became unstable and caved in, burying him in dirt just over his knees. White says the worker's condition was stable but because of the instability on site, perhaps due to Sunday's heavy rains, technical rescue crews basically had to dig the man out by hand. They would make some progress, then utilize air bags to hold the sides of the trench up.
White explained that using the faster hydraulic tools the rescue teams usually deploy would have increased the risk of another collapse, placing the man in greater danger.
After working for more than two and a half hours to stabilize the trench and free the worker a crane hoisted him out. At this time it is unclear whether there are injuries to the worker's legs. Assistant Chief White said he was conscious and communicating through the whole ordeal.
Kraus-Anderson Construction Company sent a statement to KARE 11 on Monday, saying:
"About 8 AM today, July 29, a worker from one of our subcontractors on the 240 Park construction site in Minneapolis was removing some retaining wall boards. The worker’s foot was caught between the retaining wall board and the building’s footings, with sand up to his knees. EMTs were immediately called to the site as the worker remained conscious. Crews carefully removed the sand to free him. About 11 AM he was taken to HCMC for observation.
We are continuing to investigate the cause of this incident, as part of our ongoing comprehensive safety program for the project.
We are grateful to the first responders and for the cooperation of the entire site crew in assisting us with the worker’s rescue. Our thoughts go out to him and his family for a quick recovery."