An investigation continues as to how a ditch was allowed to collapse at a Radford church, killing one worker.
The accident happend Saturday night when the ditch 38-year-old Rex Matney was digging caved in. Matney was reportedly trying to find a drainage line for new additions to the Central United Methodist church. Fire officials say during the recovery operation, they found no protective equipment or caging in the hole they say was eight feet deep. This morning OSHA told NEWS 7 their investigation could take up to six months.
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UPDATED: Sunday 6:30 p.m.
Church services at Central United Methodist Church were held as scheduled Sunday morning in Radford, after a construction worker was killed on the property.
The reverend of the church says 38-year-old Rex Matney was digging about eight feet down to look for a drainage line for the gutters of a new roof.
The reverend declined on-camera to comment because he had not yet spoken with the victim's family, as well as other workers on the site and emergency responders.
OSHA is investigating the accident, but no new details have been released as to how the accident was allowed to happen.
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UPDATED: Sunday 11:10 a.m.
Authorities have now identified the man killed in the collapse as Rex Matney of Radford.
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From Earlier:
A man is dead after a dirt wall collapses and buries him in a trench.
It happened on the grounds of Central United Methodist Church on Wadsworth street in Radford.
The 38-year-old man, who's name has not been released, was digging a sewer line feet from the church when the wall fell.
The collapse happened shortly before 5 p.m. Radford, Blacksburg and Christiansburg emergency crews didn't pull out the body until almost midnight. Authorities say the man's body was buried under seven to eight feet of dirt.
No one else was injured.
Stay with wdb7.com for the latest updates. We'll also have a live report Sunday on News7 at 6.
