Trench Collapse Sparks Rescue Of Construction Worker In Howell

HOWELL, NJ— First responders from around the two-county area helped rescue a worker who was trapped for three hours in a trench at a house construction site, surrounded by dirt up to his shoulders, police say.

Police here received a 911 call reporting that a man fell into a hole and was trapped on Carmine Way, according to a news release from Det. Sgt. Peter Kuppler of the Howell Police Department. the call came in at about 3:25 p.m. on Thursday.

Police found a 26-year-old man trapped in a hole about 10 feet into the ground. He was surrounded by dirt up to his shoulders.

The first responding police officers, Officers James Conaty, Richard Robertiello and Joseph Sulewski, quickly made a barrier of used construction debris from the area to shield the victim's head and face from more dirt collapsing around him, allowing him to breathe, police said.

A Facebook post indicated he was given a rope and air monitoring began on the hole.

There was a language barrier between the victim and rescuers, but Howell Police EMS EMT Valerie Deano was able to reassure the victim and communicate with him in Spanish, the news release said.

Howell Township Police Sergeant Paul Mazzeo, a trench collapse expert, arrived on scene and immediately began shoring up the hole. Mazzeo is also a trench collapse and rescue specialist with the Brick Township Technical Rescue and New Jersey Task Force 1 (A Federal FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Team). He requested a trench rescue unit from the Asbury Park Fire Department and the Brick Township Technical Rescue Team to respond to the scene.

After about three hours, the victim was extricated from the collapse, allowing him to walk out of the collapse without injury.

He was assessed on scene by first aid and paramedics. The victim was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune as a precaution. Two rescuers were treated at the scene for minor injuries related to the rescue, police said.

All responding units had a direct impact with preventing a fatality during this incident, police said.

Police said it was reported that the victim was an employee for "Solid Concrete Walls," a company that was digging a footing for a deck in the rear of the property when the collapse occurred. An investigation into the incident was turned over to members of OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. An attempt by Patch to reach a company of that name was unsuccessful Friday.

The following agencies were among those requested to assist in the rescue:

• Howell Township Police Department
• Howell Police EMS
• Howell Township First Aid Squad
• Freewood Acres Fire Department
• Southard Fire Department
• Howell Township Department of Public Works
• Monmouth County Public Works
• Howell Township Office of Emergency Management
• Atlantic Health Paramedics
• Asbury Park Fire Department
• Brick Township Technical Rescue Team.