YARMOUTH – One is dead and two are injured after a sewer construction site in Yarmouth collapsed.
Yarmouth Fire Department officials say the incident happened on South Shore Drive by the Skipper restaurant, drawing a large response from Barnstable and Plymouth Tech Rescue Teams.
One person was pulled from the hole and brought by medflight to an off-Cape trauma center, another escaped on their own, and the third succumbed to injuries while entrapped.
The incident is under active investigation by local, state, and federal authorities.
The following is the full statement from the Yarmouth Fire Department:
At 8:50am today, the Yarmouth Fire Department received a call for assistance from a Yarmouth Police detail officer indicating a trench collapse at the sewer construction site located at 152 South Shore Drive adjacent to Parker’s River Beach. The initial report indicated there were several people trapped in the trench.
Yarmouth Fire immediately dispatched all on-duty personnel, requested a full department recall and simultaneously requested the Barnstable County Technical Rescue Team. Additionally, a request was made for a mutual aid working fire assignment for station coverage due to the expected duration of the incident.
The first units arrived at 08:55 reporting three victims, one of whom managed self-extrication; a second, buried up to his waist; and the third completely entrapped. Rescue operations commenced immediately with personnel working and finally freeing the second victim at approximately 1:20 pm, who was then evaluated and transported to Rhode Island Hospital by Boston Med Flight. Rescue operations continued until the third worker, who succumbed to his injuries, was removed from the trench at approximately 2:45 pm.
The incident is under active investigation by local, state, and federal authorities. The Yarmouth Fire Department would like to thank the numerous partners and agencies in response and stabilization of this incident including Barnstable, Brewster, Centerville-Osterville-Marstons Mills, Chatham, Cotuit, Dennis, Harwich, Joint Base-Cape Cod, and the West Barnstable Fire Departments for provision of on-scene and coverage support. The Barnstable and Plymouth County Technical Rescue Teams for the technical expertise to safely extricate the victims working with the Department of Fire Services, Boston Med Flight, and the Providence Canteen providing direct support to the incident scene. The Yarmouth Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration provided scene security and investigatory services. National Grid and Eversource managed utility concerns throughout the incident.
Special thanks to the Town of Yarmouth’s Town Administrator’s Office, Water Department, and Department of Public Works from both Yarmouth and Barnstable for their assistance. Equipment and personnel from Public Works were critical to the operation.
The Yarmouth Fire Department extends our deepest sympathies to the victim’s loved ones and our appreciation to all responders for their professionalism during this tragic incident.
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