A construction worker died following a trench collapse at a development site along Lyons Mills Road in Owings Mills. Baltimore County Fire Department crews responded shortly after 9:30 a.m. to find one person critically injured within the trench.
The victim was later pronounced dead, authorities said.
The site, located near Deer Park Elementary School, posed significant hazards to first responders. Fire crews classified the event as a “trench rescue,” a measure reserved for incidents that necessitate specialized shoring equipment to stabilize the soil and prevent further collapse.
Although specifics remain limited, the incident draws parallels to a February trench collapse on Academy Road in Catonsville, where two workers were killed under similar circumstances.
In that case, a retaining wall fell on workers below, trapping them for nearly seven hours until rescue teams extracted their bodies. The incident spurred an ongoing investigation by Maryland’s Occupational Safety and Health Authority (MOSH).
Baltimore County Fire Lieutenant Twana Allen, who led the Catonsville operation, had previously emphasized the slow and methodical nature of trench rescues. Techniques include securing the trench walls with support braces and using cameras to ensure safe access to victims beneath the debris, according to local news reports.
The Owings Mills incident remains under investigation as MOSH and county officials work to determine root causes and whether standard safety protocols were followed.
Work in trenches deeper than five feet typically requires robust shoring or trench box systems, as mandated by federal and state safety regulations.
