On Dec. 5 a 12‑foot trench collapsed at 1187 Valley Forge Drive in Miami Township, Ohio, killing one worker and injuring two others. Rescuers spent about six hours extricating the men from unstable soil; Jose Alberto Barajas was later pronounced dead. Officials say required trench‑protection systems were not used, and OSHA and local investigators are reviewing the scene as authorities consider potential criminal charges. A GoFundMe has been launched to assist the family with funeral expenses.
Father Watches as Son Is Dug From 12‑Foot Trench — One Worker Dead, Two Injured in Miami Township Collapse
Go Fund MeJose Alberto Barajas.
A fatal trench collapse on Dec. 5 in Miami Township, Ohio, left one worker dead and two others injured after a 12‑foot excavation gave way, authorities said. Family members say the victim was pulled from the soil and later died, and that his father was forced to watch rescuers carry him away.
First responders were dispatched Friday night to 1187 Valley Forge Drive after reports that a worker was trapped, according to Miami Township Fire & EMS. Crews found two workers buried up to their abdomens inside the trench; a bystander using a shovel reported a third worker was “fully buried.”
Hamilton County Urban Search & Rescue /FacebookFirst responders at the scene on Dec. 5.
Teams stabilized the site and called for additional support from regional agencies before extricating all three men. Two victims were removed and transported to a nearby medical center; the third, later identified as Jose Alberto Barajas, was pulled from the excavation but died of injuries sustained in the collapse, officials said.
Challenging Rescue and Unsafe Conditions
Rescue operations lasted about six hours and were complicated by unstable soil conditions. The Hamilton County Urban Search & Rescue Team said the trench measured roughly 12 feet deep and experienced two secondary collapses in nonworking parts of the excavation during the operation.
Hamilton County Urban Search & Rescue /FacebookEmergency responders spent six hours extricating the trapped workers.
“We didn't know how to process it because it was so unexpected,” Claudia Ramirez, the cousin of the deceased, told WCPO, describing the family’s shock after Barajas — who recently emigrated from Mexico on a work visa — lost his life while working to support his family.
Initial information indicated the workers were contractors installing water-control piping. Miami Township fire officials said standard trench-safety systems — such as protective shoring or trench boxes that OSHA typically requires for excavations of this depth and soil type — were not in place at the site.
OSHA representatives and local law enforcement were on scene to begin investigations. Local authorities said they are reviewing whether criminal charges, including reckless homicide and negligent assault, may be appropriate as they examine the specific work assignment and safety practices used that night.
Hamilton County Urban Search & Rescue /FacebookFirst responders in the collapsed trench.
A family member has launched a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses. Officials confirmed the two survivors remain alive and are receiving medical care.
Reporting notes: Details in this article are based on statements from Miami Township Fire & EMS, the Hamilton County Urban Search & Rescue Team, WCPO, and local media outlets. Investigations by OSHA and local authorities are ongoing.
