By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
UPDATE 9:25 p.m. The body of the second victim of the trench collapse in the 700 block of Main St. in Hays has been recovered. A local funeral home transported the body from the scene. The identities of the two men killed and a third that was injured have yet to be released. According to Hays Public Information Officer Kim Rupp, the three workers were employees of JCorp in Hays.
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UPDATE 9:00 p.m. The search for the second victim continues as recovery workers continue to remove dirt and search the collapsed trench. A funeral home vehicle has just arrived on scene as screening blankets went up. EMS director Kerry McCue has moved inside the search area.
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UPDATE 7:20 p.m. Public Works Director Greg Sund has arrived on scene as dirt is still being removed from the collapsed trench in an effort to locate the second victim of the collapse.
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UPDATE 7:00 p.m. The dirt mover brought to the scene is in place above the collapsed trench. The machine has been outfitted with a special attachment to aid efforts. Extra lighting is also being set up to allow work to continue. Members of the HFD are moving buckets of dirt out of the trench.
Raw Video
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UPDATE 6:46 p.m. The search for the second victim is ongoing according to HPD Lt. Tim Greenwood.
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UPDATE 6:30 p.m. A dirt mover from APAC is working in the area as the search for the second victim continues. Assistant Director of Public Works John Braun has also arrived on scene.
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UPDATE 6:10 p.m. A contingent of City officials have arrived on scene, including Mayor Eber Phelps, City Manager Toby Dougherty, and Utilities Director Johnny O’Connor. Two priests are also with family members in the Ellis County Administration Building. The search for the second victim is ongoing.
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UPDATE 5:45 p.m. The body of one of the two victims has been recovered from the collapsed trench. Crews are currently working in the trench to recover the second victim.
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UPDATE 4:33 p.m. Hays Public Information Officer Kim Rupp says the scene of a trench collapse on south Main Street is now a “recovery operation.”
“The Hays Fire Department, Ellis County Rural Fire Department, and Ellis and Victoria Fire Departments are conducting a rescue operation of two victims in the trench. The Ellis County Coroner, Dr. Lyle Noordhoek, is investigating the accident,” Rupp said.
“American Red Cross, Ellis County Emergency Management, Kansas Highway Patrol, and Ellis County EMS are also involved and working diligently to recover the victims,” Rupp added.
Raw Video
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UPDATE 4:25 p.m. Officials say one man has been removed from the trench collapse that occurred about 1:36 p.m. this afternoon on south Main Street near the Ellis County Administrative Center. He was taken to HaysMed. The spokesman says two men remain trapped in the collapse. The families of all three men have been notified. Police officials confirmed one fatality shortly after 4 p.m.
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UPDATE 4:03 p.m. The Hays Police Department has confirmed the death of one man trapped in a trench collapse about 1:36 p.m. this afternoon on south Main Street between 7th and 8th Streets. Another man remains trapped at this time. Another update from the HPD is expected shortly.
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UPDATE 3:45 p.m. Two men are trapped in a trench collapse on south Main Street in Hays as confirmed by an eyewitness at the scene.
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UPDATE 3:15 p.m. Rescue work continues at the scene of a trench collapse about 1:36 p.m. Tuesday afternoon on Main Street between 8th and 7th Streets. Sewer line repairs have been underway for several days. According to notices from the city of Hays, the work is being done by Wichita-based Layne and Christensen.
The Hays Fire Department is still securing the trench hole.
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A section of Main Street between Seventh and Eighth streets, just in front of the Ellis County Administrative Building has caved in, trapping at least one worker.
Information is still sparse at this time, but a large contingent of Hays Police and Fire Department officials, along with Hays City workers, are working the area, trying to secure the hole and remove the trapped worker.
Main Street has been closed, along with Eighth Street two blocks east of the Main Street intersection.
Residents have been asked to avoid the area as work continues.
