Manchester man freed from trench

DELAWARE COUNTY, Iowa - One man has been taken to the hospital after a trench collapsed around him Monday morning in Delaware County.

It happened just before 9:00 a.m., along 330th Street, south of Ryan. Authorities said a tiling company was digging a trench across 330th Street, just west of Highway 13, when it collapsed on the man.

Anthony Marbach, 23, an employee of Gudenkauf Tiling & Excavating of Manchester, was working on the trench when it collapsed.

Delaware County Sheriff John LeClere said the excavating crew was digging the trench across 330th Street to connect tile lines on both sides of the road. The collapse happened at the edge of the road.

Coggon's fire chief said trench rescues are not a very common occurrence, especially for volunteer departments. This was only the second occurrence he could recall in 30 years. Volunteer firefighters called for help from Marion's technical rescue team. That team brought specialized equipment to shore up trenches and aid in the rescue.

Crews worked for nearly two hours before Marcbach was rescued and flown to a Cedar Rapids hospital. The extent of his injuries are unknown at this time.

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