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Further details released on Centralia trench collapse

By Bruce Kropp Sep 27, 2022 | 11:50 AM

Marion County Coroner Troy Cannon has announced a 54-year-old rural Brownstown man died during a trench collapse on East Kerr Street at its intersection with North Poplar.

Darrell McCammack was reportedly covered with dirt when one wall of the trench collapsed.   He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A second person in the trench was also reported covered during the collapse but was freed more quickly.  He is identified on Centralia Fire Department reports as Ethan Hawkins, with no age or address.   He was initially taken to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment.

The Centralia Fire Department was told the large trench was being dug to allow equipment to be put into place to bore under North Elm Street for sewer replacement.

Cannon says Centralia City Fire, Centralia Police, and Lifestar Ambulance personnel worked to save the two men along with their co-workers.

The trench collapse occurred at ten Monday morning.