Here's the official news release from the Lafayette County Sheriff's Office on today's trench collapse.

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On Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at approximately 11:52am the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a request for fire and rescue units at 25247 Drybone Road, New Diggings Township, Lafayette County, Wisconsin. This is a private residential address located in the township. It was reported subjects were working in a ditch, when the sides of the ditch collapsed,    trapping three individuals. Lafayette County Sheriff’s Deputies, Benton First Response, Benton Fire Department and Cuba City and Shullsburg EMS were immediately dispatched to the scene.

The investigation of the incident revealed that subjects were working on installing a sewer/septic line to a lateral line, and were working in the ditch. The embankment gave way trapping one individual in the ditch. Two other individuals entered the ditch in an effort to assist and remove the trapped individual. Another portion of the embankment then gave way and trapped all three individuals in the ditch.

Law Enforcement, Fire and EMS services, along with numerous individuals working at the site, worked together and were ultimately able to free the first individual, Benjamin Wilberding, who was transported to Mercy Hospital in Dubuque, IA by ambulance.  The second individual, Donald Pearce,  was freed and was transported to Southwest Health Center for treatment.  The third individual, Martin Wilberding, was also removed from being trapped and then transported to a Madison Hospital by Air Care Helicopter. No status, as to the worker’s condition(s), are being released at this time.

The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Benton Fire Department, Benton First Response, Cuba City EMS and Cuba City Fire personnel, Shullsburg EMS, Grant County Sheriff’s Office, Air Care Helicopter Services and numerous friends, neighbors and concerned individuals on scene.

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