SALEM TWP. - A man was rescued and flown to a hospital and another man died when a trench about seven to eight feet collapsed at a camp ground construction site Thursday morning.
click image to enlargeFamily members of the victims of a trench accident console one another at the scene of the incident.
Aimee Dilger / The Times Leader
click image to enlarge
Gary Visgaitis / Times Leader graphic
Select images available for purchase in the
Times Leader Photo Store
Ann Yalowe, of Berwick, said her uncle, Steve Bodnar, was one of two men buried when the trench collapsed at the Bodnarosa Motel and Camp Site at state Route 11 and Confers Lane just before 9 a.m.
Yalowe said Bodnar owned the land and was building small log cabins and a motel.
Rescue crews from multiple departments worked tirelessly for more than an hour to remove Bodnar from the collapsed trench.. He was transported by Berwick Ambulance at about 10:22 a.m. to Geisinger Life Flight and flown to a hospital.
"It feels good that my uncle is doing okay," Yalowe said. "I'm trying to stay strong."
Yalowe said the man who died was an employee.
The Luzerne County Coroner's Office identified the deceased man as 35-year old James Berry, of Berwick. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday morning.
Salem Township fire fighter Travis Petty said the trench that collapsed is about six to eight feet deep.
"There were a couple of guys working in the trench that collapsed around them," Petty said. "There is one that expired."
Petty said one of the difficulties in the rescue was making sure the trench was secure.
Rescue crews placed make-shift boards and planks along the trench wall to shore it up.
"We had to make scene secure and safe; shore up the trench and started digging and doing everyone we could," Petty said.
There are two trenches at the construction site being dug for underground utilities and pipes. The trench that collapsed is along a hillside while the other trench is closer to Route 11 and measures about five to six feet deep, and 10 feet by 15 feet wide.
Route 11 was closed for nearly three hours and has reopened. Reports indicate there is a three to four mile backup in the southbound lanes of Route 11.
POSTED: 10:07 a.m.
SALEM TWP. - One person has died and another was seriously injured when a trench collapsed at a construction site just off state Route 11 Thursday morning.
The Luzerne County Coroner's Office have been called to the scene where the Bodnarosa Camp Site is under construction near the intersection of Confers Lane.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
