Man killed in Dickinson cave-in was trying to save another construction worker

Talk about it

A 39-year-old man who died in a trench cave-in Tuesday in Dickinson was trying to save another man, a representative from the Bismarck Area Occupational Safety and Health Administration Office said Wednesday.

A man was excavating dirt at a subdivision development and stopped to enter the trench.

“Shortly thereafter, the excavation had a partial collapse,” said Eric Brooks, Bismarck Area OSHA Office assistant area director.

Workers tried to aid him and a second collapse buried another employee, Brooks said. Casimiro Medina, Salt Lake City, died from his injuries. Two other men were taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital; one may have had a broken bone and the other’s injuries were unknown.

An OSHA investigator was in Dickinson on Wednesday checking out the area.

It was reported there was no cave-in protection, such as shoring or a trench box, on-site, Brooks said. He did not say how deep the trench was.

“If your excavation is 5 feet or more in depth, you have to have cave-in protection,” he said.

The incident is under investigation and Brooks would not say if citations will be issued.

Medina came to the area about two weeks ago for work, his in-law, Roberto Almodobar, told The Press at the scene. Almodobar also came from Salt Lake City for work, he said.

The Dickinson Police Department received the initial call about the accident, which occurred on the northwest side of the city, at about 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, according to a DPD press release.

Emergency workers used shoring to brace the trench and freed Medina’s body at about 10:45 a.m. Tuesday.

Tags: news, local, construction