Man rescued after falling into construction trench

Tim Szymanski / Special to the Las Vegas Sun

Emergency crews work at the scene of a trench collapse late Thursday near the Suncoast.

Published Thursday, Oct. 1, 2009 | 9:18 p.m.

Updated Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 | 4:38 a.m.

Approximate location of rescue

A man used his cell phone to call for help after he fell into a 25-foot-deep construction trench Thursday night in northwestern Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Fire Department reported.

The man called 911 about 7:15 p.m. after he fell into the trench along Rampart Boulevard, across from the Suncoast, where the Las Vegas Valley Water District is replacing a 36-inch pipeline, said Tim Szymanski, a spokesman for the Fire Department.

The man was in the trench for about two hours before he was rescued by technical rescue firefighters from Las Vegas Fire and Rescue and the Clark County Fire Department. Workers had to stabilize the trench, shoring up the walls with wood and other equipment, before bringing him out, Szymanski said. The man, who appeared to be in his 20s, complained of leg and arm pain and was taken to a local hospital, he said.

The man's name was not immediately released. Neither construction workers nor the Water District knew who he was, Szymanski said.

The ditch, which is 50 feet long and 30 feet wide, was supposed to be filled in by construction crews Thursday night, Szymanski said. Signs were posted at the site warning of the ditch, Szymanski said. The construction site was also surrounded by a concrete jersey wall, officials said.

Rampart was closed to traffic from Alta to Canyon Run drives because the sides of the ditch were unstable, and rescuers feared that there might be a collapse, officials said.

A total of 37 firefighters responded to the scene.

Discussion: 9 comments so far…

By Mike123

10/1/09 at 10:27 p.m.

Suggest removal

Idiot

I can't wait to hear this story
By DTJ

10/1/09 at 11:07 p.m.

Suggest removal

Well said!
By Teaser

10/2/09 at 6:40 a.m.

Suggest removal

Actually, not necessarily an idiot. This happened to my wife many years ago in L.A. In fact, there was also another person that same day that fell into one of these. My wife is not idiot. But the combination of shadow and lack of proper warning signs hid the trench from view. If you're not expecting it, and you're looking up and about, well . . .
By imist

10/2/09 at 7:26 a.m.

Suggest removal

The cones, concrete barriers, and chain link fences weren't enough proper warning signs?
By revbobdobbs

10/2/09 at 3:56 p.m.

Suggest removal

His name wouldn't be Homer Simpson, would it?
By Eddie

10/2/09 at 4:08 p.m.

Suggest removal

Do I smell a lawsuit? I think he knew exactly what he was doing.
By Eddie

10/2/09 at 4:18 p.m.

Suggest removal

After hearing the 911 call, not sure of the his reason for being there. Would like to know.
By lcdrmandingonamvet

10/2/09 at 6:23 p.m.

Suggest removal

Whoa! LVNV must have taken their construction safety training courses from an outfit in Beijing. LVNV is truly 3rd world.
By skerlahdee

10/3/09 at 4:05 p.m.

Suggest removal

lc...vet is onto something. Large construction holes like this must be adequately protected when construction crews retire for the night. The fire department spokesman said the site had warning signs, but also said the ditch "was supposed to be filled in by construction crews". Whether the guy was Homer Simpson or not, the construction site must be made safe or stuff like this happens.

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