This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
One man is dead and another is injured after a trench collapsed in American Fork on Friday.
A crew was excavating the trench with heavy machinery to lay a water line in a subdivision about 530 South and 860 East, said American Fork police Lt. Sam Liddiard.
One man jumped into the trench about 3:30 p.m. to work with a shovel. The ground collapsed from under him, Liddiard said, trapping his legs in dirt up to midthigh.
Two other men jumped in to help him. While the first man exited the trench, one of those who attempted to save him — a 41-year-old man from Provo — died.
Police are unsure what caused the man's death because the dirt never went higher than the trapped mens' legs, Liddiard said. The trench was at least 6 feet deep.
Responders excavated the man's body after about 45 minutes; it was sent to a medical examiner to determine the cause of death.
Police are not releasing the man's name until his family is notified. Employees with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will investigate the incident.
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