LOCAL : Pacoima Construction Worker Dies as Trench Collapses on Him
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A 33-year-old Pacoima man died today after he fell head-first into a trench at a Glendale construction site and was buried when dirt collapsed around him.
Firefighters used their hands and shovels for about an hour to free Enrique Ayala. Only his feet were visible when the rescue effort began at about 8 a.m., authorities said.
He was transported to Glendale Adventist Hospital, but hospital spokeswoman Sandra Wachter-Van said he was dead on arrival.
The accident occurred in the 100 block of West Glenoaks Boulevard where ground was broken July 17 for a $36-million, 18-story Red Lion Hotel.
Glendale police spokesman Mario Yagoda said the accident occurred while Ayala was helping drill a trench for a concrete pylon beside the Verdugo Wash.
“His feet were up in the air, and the rest of his body was completely covered,” Yagoda said. “The firemen couldn’t use heavy equipment because they were afraid of injuring him. It took an hour to completely free him from the trench.”
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