Commerce Cave In

A trench collapses in the four states trapping and injuring two men. The accident happened this morning in commerce oklahoma. One man was trapped in the dirt up to his knees and was freed within fifteen minutes, but the second man was trapped up to his head and it took at least 20 minutes to free him. The second victim was taken to Baptist Regional Health Center with unknown injuries. The collapse happened at approximately 9:50 this morning near the local Oklahoma bank on Highway 69 in Commerce. An independent contracting firm, Earth Works, is changing out some of the sewer lines in commerce. It`s not clear exactly how the accident happened,but we do know that earth works has been using a back hoe to dig the ten foot deep trench. The workers were in that trench when the sides fell in around them. The Miami fire department as well as the picher fire department responded to the accident. Miami Fire Chief Kevin Trease says the men were in a panic to be stuck in the trench. And the first victim was relieved and walking around when he was released from the dirt. Fire Chief Trease says he didn`t see any shoring equipment at the site which would have helped to keep the dirt walls from falling in. The investigation into the cause of the accident is continuing. Because earth works was working on sewer lines there is the possibility of sewage backing up. Reported By: Jennifer Grannan