JARRELL, Texas — The two men who died after they were buried alive at a construction site in Jarrell on Tuesday were recovered by authorities 23 hours after the incident.
The two were buried 24 feet underground in a two-foot wide space after the trench collapsed in the area of 13700 North I-35 around 8:30 a.m., said Jarrell City Spokesperson Nick Spinetto.
Mark McAdams, the chief officer with the Williamson Fire Department, said during a news conference Wednesday that the first man was recovered at 6:18 a.m. and the second at 7:24 a.m.
The names of the victims were not yet released. Mayor Larry Bush said, however, the men were part of the Jarrell community and one of them graduated from Jarrell High School. The year he graduated was not released.
Williamson County Sheriff's Office and OSHA will be handling the investigation.
OSHA responded to 6News when asked if the men should have been 24 feet below ground. They responded in an email saying, it doesn't matter the type of trench as long as they keep workers safe by following OSHA standard.
Some of these standards include watching for environmental hazards like standing water, having cave-in protection, and remembering slope, shore, shield.
OSHA has also put a warning out to the area to stay away from trenching right now.
A total of 40 fire personnel were on the scene aiding recovery efforts. Also responding to help were several authorities from Georgetown, Temple, Round Rock, Austin, Salado and Williamson County. Private businesses also offered help, McAdams said.
Rewatch the news conference from Wednesday morning below.
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