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Rescue workers in Hamilton County freed two workers who were stuck in a collapsed trench Thursday night. Jackson Township fire officials stated, the rescue quickly became a team effort with seven fire departments responding, including Noblesville, Westfield, Fishers and Carmel.
According to Jackson Township Fire Department Chief Jeff Muszar, two men became trapped in the trench sometime before 6 p.m. The men were working for a private contractor and digging for a sewer line which had become clogged.
Muszar said one worker was trapped from the waist down in the trench along Maple Street in a residential neighborhood in Arcadia.
Carter
Jackson Township Battalion Chief James Carter told WISH-TV, “Anytime you have a trench collapse there’s obviously the potential for a secondary collapse because the ground is unstable and collapsed in the first place,” said Battalion Chief James Carter with the Jackson Township Fire Department. “So, it takes them coming in, shoring to stabilize that trench to prevent a secondary collapse.”
One man was able to self-rescue with assistance shortly after becoming trapped and refused medical assistance after evaluation. The second man was freed about 7:30 p.m. and airlifted to IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and is in stable condition.
Photo provided by Adam Harrington, Carmel Fire Department
“Even if it’s at their waist, you’ve got extremity injuries, pressure being put on their vital organs that can cause long-term damage,” added Carter. “The longer they’re in there, the more extreme that can become.”
The collapse is still under investigation at this time.
Editor’s note: This article was updated by The Reporter with information from Chief Muszar on Friday morning.