Worker critically injured in trench collapse

By Branden Jackman
Firefighter/ Paramedic
Public Information Officer
Paint Creek Joint EMS & Fire District

The Hillsboro station of Paint Creek Joint EMS & Fire District was alerted to a subject trapped in a trench collapse near the intersection of Beech Street and North East Street in Hillsboro at 2:53 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6.

Responding crews were on scene and assessing the situation within 60 seconds.

Squads 222, 223 and Rescue 232 responded to find a 26-year-old, male contractor that was hired by the city of Hillsboro to replace storm sewers almost completely buried by a partial collapse of the trench.

Officers from the Hillsboro Police Department had arrived on scene and members from HPD, Paint Creek Fire, city employees and construction company employees all worked in a concerted effort to free the victim from the engulfment.

Michael Sowards, the on-scene commander, requested MedFlight aeromedical transport within three minutes of arriving on the scene to ensure availability once the subject was freed.

Four minutes after Med Flight arrived at the accident location, the subject was freed from the entrapment. The victim was pulseless and not breathing.

Paint Creek’s on-duty crew, assisted by the flight crew from Med Flight, transported the patient to Highland District Hospital by ground, where he was later transferred via Med Flight Helicopter to Miami Valley Hospital.

Paint Creek Joint EMS & Fire was assisted on scene by City of Hillsboro Police Department and Street Department Employees, members of the construction crew and Med Flight 9.