Worker Rescued From Collapsed Trench In Woodbridge

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — A Lake Hopatcong man working on a road construction site became trapped Wednesday afternoon in Woodbridge Township, police report. The man initially become stuck up to his shoulders after the trench collapsed and was unable to breathe.

However, Anthony Hayne, 42, of Lake Hopatcong was in good condition Wednesday night at University Hospital Newark, where he was recovering.

The scary incident happened at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on Jordan Road in the Colonia section. A Woodbridge police officer working an off-duty road detail first noticed the man had become trapped in the trench he was working in. The victim was covered up to his shoulders and was unable to breath. The construction trench he was working on on the side of the road had collapsed in on him, police said.

Other workers nearby worked frantically to free him and Hayne was ultimately freed after they used a forklift to lift him out of the trench. He was freed about 4:50 p.m. He was passing in and out of consciousness when he was rushed by North Star helicopter to University Hospital in Newark.

However, Pix 11 is reporting he was in good condition at the hospital Wednesday night and had suffered some cuts to the side of his face and was sore.

OSHA is investigating. Hayne was employed by Chaplewood Home Services, based in Newton, NJ.