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A construction crew installing storm drains in Washington County was not using suggested safety precautions when a trench wall collapsed Tuesday, killing one worker and injuring another, rescue workers and township officials said.

William Partin, 39, of Hoffman Drive, North Fayette, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to North Franklin police.

The collapse occurred about 1:30 p.m. near Trinity High School in North Franklin, Washington County Coroner S. Timothy Warco said.

The injured worker, whose name was not released, was taken to Canonsburg General Hospital for treatment, rescue personnel said. His injuries were not believed to be serious.

The two men were on a crew of five from Wagner Development Co., of North Fayette, which is in charge of the $112,000 storm-water drainage project along Hazelwood Drive in the Trinity Park development.

Two North Franklin officials and a local firefighter said the two men were working inside the 10-foot-deep trench without the protection of a metal trench box, also known as a trench shield, used to prevent workers from the danger of collapse.

Investigators from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration arrived on the scene last night to determine what caused the accident and to learn if any safety standards were violated.

Officials from Wagner Development could not be reached for comment.

The two men were buried up to their chests in mud and debris when the first firefighters arrived, said Douglas Trbovich, duty captain of the Washington City Fire Department, which responded to the call along with volunteer firefighters from North Franklin.

"One guy was an obvious DOA (dead on arrival). It looked like he had been crushed. His head was covered with blood and he was gone," Trbovich said.

"The older fellow, who was being freed by a co-worker, was wiggling and screaming," Trbovich said.

North Franklin police Sgt. Richard Horner said the injured man was taken to the hospital to be checked out, but "he's basically OK. He's walking on his own."

Trbovich said that he saw a trench box about 100 yards away from the accident site.

Township Supervisor Carole Beck and township administrator Scott Novak, who both visited the scene, agreed that the trench box was not being used.

Novak said since the project began about five weeks ago, the township's quality-control inspector has made repeated suggestions to workers and company officials to use the trench box.

"You really have to ask them why they haven't been using it. They've been advised to, but for whatever reason they decided not to," Novak said.

Novak added that the township inspector is not a safety officer and has no authority to order the company to take any safety measures.

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