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AMERICAN FORK — Police have identified the deceased victim of a trench collapse in American Fork last week as Antonio Gonzalez, 41, of Provo.
Another worker was also trapped in the collapse up to his thigh, according to American Fork Police Lt. Sam Liddiard. Emergency responders helped him out of the collapsed trench. He was able to walk around afterward but was taken to American Fork Hospital by ambulance "as a precaution," Liddiard said.
The incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. at the construction site, 860 E. 500 South, where an unstable trench, more than 6 feet deep, had started to collapse. Gonzalez had jumped in to try to fix the problem and clear debris, Liddiard said. The injured man had jumped into the trench to help the first man.
A third worker was temporarily trapped after he jumped in to assist the first two men, but he was able to get out of the trench on his own power.
"It wasn't a complete collapse,” Liddiard said. “The dirt just started to roll over the top of them.”
