Worker killed in California trench collapse

An excavation worker died Friday morning following a trench collapse in Hickman, a small farming community in California’s Central Valley. The incident occurred near the intersection of Hickman Road and Lake Road, approximately 15 miles east of Modesto.

More than 30 firefighters and technical rescue personnel responded to the scene. Emergency responders spent nearly five hours attempting to reach the worker trapped beneath the soil. The victim was eventually recovered from the trench and pronounced dead.

The identity of the deceased worker has not been released, and the specific cause of the collapse remains unknown. Cal/OSHA is currently investigating the circumstances of the accident to determine if workplace health and safety regulations were followed. Other assisting agencies included the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office and the Stanislaus County C.E.R.T.