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Three injured in trench collapse
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Above, a medical helicopter prepares to take off from a field along Dry Bone Road in the town of New Diggings on Tuesday, June 20, after a trench collapsed injuring three. Two were taken by ambulance to hospitals for treatment. Marty Wilberding of Cuba City was air lifted to Madison for his injuries. At left is the partially-collapsed trench that was being dug by Wiederholt Excavating and Wilberding Mechanical. Responding to the scene were the Benton First Responders, Benton Fire Department, Shullsburg Ambulance, Cuba City Area Rescue Squad, Lafayette County Sheriffs Department and many concerned neighbors willing to help. - photo by Dena Harris

TOWN OF NEW DIGGINGS—Three were injured when a trench collapsed on a private property in the town of New Diggings on Tuesday, June 20.

According to a report from the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office, rescue teams responded to 25247 Dry Bone Road in the town of New Diggings to dig out three men trapped in a ditch.

An investigation showed that the men were installing a septic line to a lateral line and were working in the ditch when the embankment gave way trapping Marty Wilberding of Cuba City. Two others, Benjamin Wilberding and Donald Pearce entered the trench to free Marty Wilberding when another portion of the embankment gave way and trapped all three men in the ditch.

Law enforcement, fire and rescue squads, along with numerous individuals working at the site, worked together and were able to free Benjamin Wilberding first. He was transported to Mercy Hospital in Dubuque, Iowa. Pearce was freed second and was transported to Southwest Health Center for treatment. Marty Wilberding was eventually pulled from the trench and was transported to a Madison hospital by Air Care Helicopter.

The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Benton Fire Department, Benton First Responders, Cuba City Area Rescue Squad, Cuba City Fire Department personnel, Shullsburg Ambulance, Grant County Sheriff’s Office, Air Care Helicopter Services and numerous friends, neighbors and concerned individuals on the scene.