‘Dedicated’ worker dies in trench collapse that trapped others, Alabama city says

A city worker was killed when the trench he was working in collapsed on top of him and other city workers, Alabama officials said.

The public works employee in Eutaw, Alabama, who officials later identified as Tony Rice, was working underground on sewer lines on the night of April 25 when the dirt around him crumbled, according to a Facebook post from the Greene County Ambulance Service.

The other workers were able to escape from the trench, but Rice was trapped.

Rescue teams reached the site and tried to get Rice out of the trench, but they were unsuccessful.

The ambulance service said it worked for eight hours, but the ground around where the rescuers believed Rice to be was unstable and kept collapsing as they worked.

“This type of rescue is not only very uncommon, but also very dangerous and requires very specific equipment,” the post said.

As they worked, the trench started to fill with water and sewage, WBRC reported, and the Tuscaloosa Water and Sewage Department tried to pump out the liquid.

Rice’s family was at the scene when his body was recovered around 4 a.m. on April 26, WBRC reported.

“It’s devastating for the family. It’s devastating for the crew members that are on the scene. Members of his crew have not left the scene,” Tuscaloosa Fire Chief Randy Smith told WBRC.

The City of Eutaw released a statement that was shared on the Facebook page of a local news outlet, calling Rice a “dedicated worker” and a “great friend.”

“No one ever wants to have to deal with a situation like this, and no one ever thinks it will happen to them,” the statement said. “Over the next several days there will be more questions than answers as we move through all of the official processes and also deal with heavy hearts and sadness at a loss of someone who’s close to you. We will forever miss Tony’s smiling face and energy.”

Others shared their condolences for the Rice family and memories of Tony.

“I can remember moving to Eutaw with my kids … (and) didn’t have no family of my own no friends to go to but Tony Rice and his (w)ife took care and loved on me,” one person posted.

“Tony would pull up with some type of sweets and put his girl in his lap just so she could enjoy her snacks,” she continued.

“Thought I was gonna wake up to good news of people saying they pulled (you) out alive,” another said. “I jus(t) knew (you) was coming out of there with that big smile, praying for your wife, kids and grandkids.”

Eutaw is about 35 miles south of Tuscaloosa.

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