Authorities: Portland worker dies in trench collapse

PORTLAND – Authorities said a 27-year-old construction worker died when a trench collapsed and buried him in Portland.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reported the collapse happened Thursday morning while workers were installing a sewage line at a Portland home.

Authorities said the man had been working at the bottom of an 11-foot deep trench and was outside the temporary walls created to prevent collapse when it caved in.

Portland Fire and Rescue officials said the man had been working for TC Excavating for a little over a year.

It wasn’t clear what caused the trench to collapse. The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division is investigating.

Authorities have not released the man’s name.