Two Men Dead After Trench Collapse in Central Texas

JARRELL, TEXAS- On Tuesday morning the bodies of two men were recovered after a trench collapsed in Central Texas. 

According to Williamson County, on Jun. 28, the first call regarding a collapse came it just before 8:45 a.m. The two men were more than 20 feet deep in a two-foot-wide space digging a sewer line. The collapse happened near the I-35 frontage road and exit 275. The line was going in for a new housing development.

Williamson County Fire Department chief officer Mark McAdams said the individuals were located and the first was recovered at 6:18 a.m.  The second body was extricated at 7:24 a.m.

It took 16 hours to safely recover the bodies of the men.

40 fire personnel aided in the recovery effort from different areas around the collapse including Georgetown, Temple, Round Rock, Salado, Williamson County, and Austin. 

Jarrell is located north of Round Rock on Interstate 35 south of Temple, Texas.

The cause of the collapse is unknown, the individuals have not been named, and their families have been notified. The Williamson County Sheriff's Office and OHSA will be investigation.