Authorities ID man killed in trench collapse in Brazoria County
By Dale Lezon
Published 12:16 pm, Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Authorities have released the name of a 49-year-old man who died Monday at a construction site when a trench collapsed on him in Brazoria County.
The incident happened as workers were digging a 15-foot-deep trench to lay a new sanitary pipe at a new residential subdivision near Manvel, according to the Brazoria County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies identified the man as Noe Reyes.
Reyes, deputies said, was at the bottom of the trench when the walls collapsed on him, covering him in dirt. Coworkers dug Reyes out of the dirt and people performed cardio pulmonary resuscitation on him but were unable to revive him. Reyes died at the scene.
Deputies are investigating the incident but no foul play is suspected.
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also investigating the case.
It is apparent that no trench wall supports, such as shoring, were used in this case. I am sure the contractor will be paying some steep fine and will be held liable for the death of the poor worker.