Man dies after trench collapses, trapping him 19 feet underground – WISH-TV | Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather

PLEASANT VIEW, Ind. (WISH) – A man died Sunday afternoon after he fell into a trench and became trapped underground at a construction site in Northwest Shelby County.

The 54-year-old was once a project supervisor for HIS Contractors Inc., a construction company based in Indianapolis, the Indianapolis Fire Department said. Five company workers were at the excavation site Sunday when the trench collapsed.

The company called 911 for help just before 3:10 p.m. Sunday in the 12100 block of East McGregor Road. It’s about 500 feet east of the Indianapolis border, and just southwest of the community of Shelby County of Pleasant View.

A bulletin from the Indianapolis Fire Department said, “Based on location at the county line and cell tower location – the call was initially sent to Marion County police dispatch – they forwarded the call to the Shelby County Dispatch at 3:13 pm.”

Witnesses said the man was standing on the edge of a newly dug trench when the ground gave way. The trench along the road is about 40 feet long and 6 feet wide.

After he fell, mud and debris fell on his head. Witnesses tried to reach him but the ground was too unstable. Water fills the hole and compacts the soil into clay. A Greenfield Wastewater Utility truck was used to remove dirt and water, the statement said.

Firefighters at 5:30pm found the man about 19 feet underground and his body was removed shortly before 7:45pm

The man had not been identified on Sunday night as his family has been informed. He has worked for HIS Contractors for 15 years and has been overseeing the Pleasant View Commerce Park project since September. The US$114 million 100-acre project to convert farmland into commercial space is open for the first time. discussed in 2008 as a future venue for Honda suppliers.