GREELEY, Colo. (KDVR) — One person was killed and one person was injured after a trench collapsed in Greeley on Saturday.
According to the Greeley Fire Department, firefighters were called to the 1900 block of East 16th Street shortly before noon on reports of a trench collapse with a person trapped.
When firefighters arrived, they found a trench that was six feet deep. GFD said a portion of the trench wall had collapsed and trapped one person inside.
Additional emergency personnel from the Weld County Sheriff’s Office, City of Greeley public works department, Platte Valley Fire Protection District, Windsor Severance Fire Rescue, and Poudre Fire Authority were called along with Greeley’s trench collapse trailer.
Crews worked to stabilize the trench walls, and after a few hours, the rescue operation transitioned to a recovery operation. The victim was recovered three hours later.
“These types of incidents can take several hours because we are working in unstable soils, and as we proceed to get the victims out or are deep in our stance in the trench we have to close it up to make sure there isn’t further collapse,” said Robert Fries, Greeley Fire’s battalion chief.
One other person who was at the site but not trapped in the trench was transported to a local hospital with injuries. Their condition is unknown at this time.
Andrian Bejar, who lives just down the road, was shocked to find out what happened.
”It’s sad, you just never know,” Bejar said. “I feel bad for the families, that’s the hard part, you know go to work and not come back.”
The 1900 block of East 16th Street remains closed while trench crews continue cleanup.
This is a breaking news story, FOX31 has a crew on scene and will update as information becomes available.