June 18, 2022
After a St. Paul trench collapse Friday, firefighters found the bodies of two people who’d been working inside. The recovery effort lasted about 12 hours.
Firefighters were dispatched to the Highland Park construction site about 2:45 p.m. after another worker who was in the area called 911. That person attempted a brief rescue when the trench collapsed, according to Deputy Fire Chief Roy Mokosso.
“Based on the size of boulders and type of soil, it’s believed that the two individuals would have perished … minutes after the collapse,” Mokosso said.
Rescue workers extricated one of the bodies Friday night and the other about 3 a.m. Saturday.
The site of the collapse was in the 700 block of Mount Curve Boulevard. The workers were near an apartment building that’s under construction at the corner of Mount Curve Boulevard and Pinehurst Avenue; it wasn’t immediately confirmed what type of work they were doing.
Firefighters worked to stabilize and shore the trench. St. Paul public works brought in a backhoe to remove soil, in order “to safely do the recovery,” said Assistant Fire Chief Matt Simpson.
St. Paul and Minneapolis firefighters who are part of a specialized rescue team for collapsed structures carried out the recovery.
They rotated crews in and brought in lights to work through the night.
City Council Member Chris Tolbert, who represents the area, went to Mount Curve Boulevard as the recovery efforts were underway. He talked to some relatives of the workers who had gathered.
“It’s absolutely tragic,” he said. “… It’s really hard to lose a family member, especially on Father’s Day weekend.”
The sorrow at the site was in direct contrast to what a passerby saw earlier Friday.
Susan Drake, who lives in the neighborhood, said she was heading to Starbucks Friday morning on Mount Curve Boulevard and noticed four construction workers who appeared to be taking a break. She said they looked relaxed and happy, “in good moods on this beautiful day.”
“They seemed like such nice guys,” Drake added.
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