On April 20 at approximately 11:09 a.m., an industrial accident occurred in the town of Champion on Freedom Drive, resulting in one fatality and one injury. State Police were called to the scene to investigate the accident.
The preliminary investigation revealed that Shawn J. King, 30, of Watertown, and Mark A. Holder, 59, of Redwood, were working on installing drainage tiles in a trench when the ditch unexpectedly collapsed. While King managed to extricate himself from the caved-in trench, Holder became trapped under the dirt.
Emergency responders transported Holder to Carthage Hospital, where he was sadly pronounced deceased. King was also taken to Carthage Hospital for evaluation but was later released after being deemed in stable condition.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragic accident. Further details will be provided as the investigation progresses and new information comes to light.
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