Worker installing fiber optic cable dies in trench collapse

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV/Gray News) - A worker has died at a worksite in Kansas.

According to the KCK Fire Department, a trench rescue team located the worker’s body around 11:45 p.m. Thursday.

First responders were called to the scene near S. 16th Street and Metropolitan Avenue, just south of the Kansas River.

Authorities said workers installing fiber optic cable called for help after realizing they hadn’t noticed a co-worker for some time. They also found that the excavator he operated was not moving.

First responders said the workers checked the trench and discovered it had collapsed.

The trench is located in uneven terrain and is estimated to be about 16 to 18 feet wide and up to 25 feet deep at its deepest point, according to the KCK Fire Department.

The department used specialized heavy rescue teams to search the area. Public works and emergency management employees also helped with the task.

KCK Fire said they believe there wasn’t a trench box, a protective structure used in excavations to prevent trench wall collapses and protect workers from injury or death, in place.

The Kansas City, Kan. Police Department is investigating what happened, along with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

It’s unclear what company the person worked for.