2 Construction Workers Killed In Baltimore Co. Trench Collapse

CATONSVILLE, MD — Two construction workers who became trapped Friday in a trench collapse in Catonsville have died, according to officials.

After a seven-hour rescue, Baltimore County Fire Department officials announced shortly before 7:30 p.m. that both workers had been extricated from the trench and pronounced dead.

They were identified as 24-year-old Emerson Amestica and 32-year-old Wilmer Barzallo, according to a WJZ report.

Crews attempted to rescue the workers after they were called to a home in the 500 block of Academy Road around 11:37 a.m.

Fire officials told WJZ that the workers were reinforcing a brick retaining wall when it fell on them, trapping them in a 6-foot trench.

About 50 to 60 fire and rescue personnel were on the scene around 12:30 p.m., according to Lt. Twana Allen. Firefighters from Baltimore City and Howard County assisted Baltimore County teams.

Kevin Van Valkenburg, a nearby resident of the home where the incident occurred, told the Baltimore Banner the collapse sounded “like a small earthquake.” He heard them screaming as other workers scrambled to remove the rocks.

“It was clear that something bad had happened,” Van Valkenburg told the Banner.