2 workers killed after the collapse of a construction trench in Saint-Paul

ST. PAUL, Minnesota. — Two workers were killed Friday afternoon when a construction trench collapsed in St. Paul.

The St. Paul Fire Department said the collapse occurred around 3 p.m. in a construction zone on the 700 block of Mount Curve Boulevard near the Mississippi River in the Highland Park neighborhood.

While fire crews responded quickly to the scene, it was too late to secure the trench and rescue the workers who had been buried underground.

“We feel awful for the victims when something like this happens,” Deputy Fire Chief Matt Simpson said. “We train for this every day… Unfortunately, the weather was not on our side to make that difference today.”

Lahens St. Fleur saw dozens of first responders flood the street near his home. He and others were heartbroken for the workers and their families.

“I’m just very, very sad that this happened,” he said. “My heart really goes out to these people.”

Firefighters say the first victim was recovered around 9:30 p.m., and the second at 2:30 a.m. The names of the two workers have not yet been released.

No other injuries were reported.