Trench collapse in Yarmouth, Massachusetts kills worker, 2 others hospitalized after long rescue effort
One worker died and two others were injured in a trench collapse in Yarmouth, Massachusetts on Tuesday. One of the workers was trapped for around five hours before he was finally rescued.
The collapse happened in front of the Skipper Chowder House restaurant on South Shore Drive at about 8:30 a.m. during ongoing sewer construction.
Crews were able to get the man who died out of the trench around 2:45 p.m.
The fire department initially responded to a report of two people trapped in the trench. A third worker "heroically jumped in" to try and help.
Yarmouth Fire Chief Enrique Arrascue said it was a "very complicated" rescue effort. The trench kept collapsing as rescuers tried to remove a worker who was buried up to his waist. He was freed around 1:20 p.m. and flown to a trauma center in Rhode Island. The man who jumped in was able to get himself out of the trench and was taken by ambulance to a hospital.
While one man was being brought to a waiting ambulance he could be heard asking for his girlfriend. She shouted in response from nearby, "I'm here!"
Trench collapse victim identified
On Wednesday, the town of Yarmouth identified the man who died as 61-year-old Miguel Reis, of Fall River.
The town said the man who was rescued is still being treated at Rhode Island Hospital.
"Our hearts are with both families, their loved ones, and all who are grieving during this very difficult time," the town said in a statement.
The incident is still being identified by local authorities and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Witness heard cries for help
A woman who lives nearby heard someone outside yelling for help Tuesday morning.
"I noticed that some of the construction crew working on the other side of the street had ran over to the other hole that they were digging," the woman, who did not want to be identified, told WBZ-TV.
The water and power in her building were both shut off as the search intensified.
"Additional crews, additional towns started to show up. Search and rescue started to show up," the witness said. "We saw them pull one worker out, who was conscious at the time."
The woman said the construction project is upgrading nearby homes and businesses from septic systems to sewer. She said it's taken two years so far.
"We see them all day. We watch them eat lunch. We watch them hang out together, so we've gotten to know a lot of the guys that work here so it's just kind of holding your breath, hoping everybody's okay," the witness said.
Concerns over excavation company
The Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health is now calling for accountability after the trench collapse.
MassCOSH said in a statement that the excavation company, Revoli Construction, has a, "troubling history of significant health and safety records," including a 2006 incident where a Revoli truck struck a power line which shocked a police officer and a 2005 incident where workers were inside an unprotected 14-foot trench in a Gloucester.
For the Gloucester incident, MassCOSH reports, "Revoli Construction was cited for 12 alleged willful and serious violations, with proposed fines totaling $115,900, including $98,000 for two willful citations and $17,900 for ten serious violations."
According to OSHA records from 2015 to 2025, there are six inspection reports of Revoli. In at least two of the cases, OSHA found serious safety violations and issued penalties. In both cases the penalties were reduced and the cases were settled.
According to the town records, Yarmouth awarded a nearly $18 million contract to Revoli Construction in 2023 for its waste water collection and recovery project.
WBZ-TV reached out to Revoli Construction for a comment and did not receive a response.
The Town of Yarmouth released a statement Tuesday night.
"The Town of Yarmouth is heartbroken by today's tragic trench collapse on South Shore Drive. One life was lost, and two others were rescued. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the man who passed, and our thoughts are with those recovering from this devastating event," the town said. "We offer our sincere gratitude to the Yarmouth Fire and Police Departments, the Barnstable County Technical Rescue Team, and all our regional partners who responded with extraordinary courage and care. We ask our community to keep all those affected in their hearts during this difficult time."