Trench collapses on Spokane Valley man digging sewer line

A woman used her own hands to dig out her 83-year-old father after the side of a trench collapsed on him while digging a residential sewer line, according to a Spokane Valley Fire Department news release. The man was buried in dirt up to his chest at his home near the 10900 block of East Empire Avenue. His daughter dug up enough dirt to give him room to breathe in the 6 foot deep trench before calling 911, the release said. It took nearly an hour for Spokane Valley Fire Department rescue crews to dig him out using hand tools. Medics transported the man to a local hospital for treatment, but he didn’t appear to have any serious injuries, the release added.