1 worker dead and 1 hospitalized following trench collapse during sewer pipe repair

ROME, Ga. (Atlanta News First/Gray News) – A water and sewer department worker has died after a trench collapsed Thursday night in Georgia.

Two workers were repairing a sewer pipe when the trench they were in collapsed on them. Emergency responders were called to Coosawattee Avenue, near Shorter Avenue, west of Rome, around 11:30 p.m.

The two men were trapped for several hours before they could be rescued.

Both workers were taken to Floyd County Medical Center for treatment of their injuries.

The city of Rome later confirmed that one of the workers had died. He was identified as 55-year-old James Rayburn.

A water and sewer worker has died after a trench collapsed in Georgia.(Family of James Rayburn)

The city says Rayburn was a “long-time employee of the Water and Sewer Department.”

The condition of the other worker, identified as Michael Walters, is unknown at this time.