Two construction workers killed at home site in Edwardsville
Two men lost their lives at a construction site in the 100 block of East Union Street in Edwardsville Friday night.
The Edwardsville Police Department released a statement saying police were called to a scene at a residential development site about 6:55 p.m. and found the two men in a manhole that led to storm sewer piping.
Authorities believe the men entered the manhole sometime in the late afternoon.
Edwardsville Police Chief Michael Fillback said city fire personnel worked to recover the men’s bodies. The Madison County Coroner also was at the scene.
As of Saturday afternoon, the men’s identities have not been released.
The area where the men were located contained very little oxygen and a buildup of toxic gases, Edwardsville Fire Chief James Whiteford said in a statement.
An Edwardsville police officer who responded to the scene had to be taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries Friday night. Fillback told Fox2Now the low oxygen level in the underground area could have potentially caused the officer’s injuries.
The officer has since been released from the hospital, according to the police department.
Fillback said further information would not be released until the men’s families had been notified. An investigation is ongoing.
The Union Street site is the location of the new Pfarm home development by Pfund Construction. A representative from Pfund did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday.
This story was originally published August 20, 2022 at 7:19 AM.
