ORANGE, Orange County, Texas, Oct. 8, 2026 — A 39-year-old man died on Tuesday afternoon, October 6, after a trench collapsed on him at a worksite on Texas Highway 62 in Orange County, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said.
The man, a Hardin County resident, was reportedly inside the trench when its walls gave way. Workers had been digging the trench for a new RV site, Sheriff Bobby Smith said. He was pulled from the trench and taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name has not been released.
The collapse happened shortly after 3 p.m. on Highway 62, about three-quarters of a mile south of Interstate 10, near Gilbeaux's Towing. A large digging machine and other heavy equipment were at the site at the time.
Orange County Sheriff's Office deputies responded along with the Orange Fire Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and Acadian Ambulance. Highway 62 was closed in both directions for about an hour while crews worked the scene.
The sheriff's office said it is investigating alongside other agencies, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been notified.
Our sympathies are with the family of the person who lost their life.
When Trench and Excavation Accidents Are Most Likely to Turn Deadly
Trench work carries risk any time of day, but the danger often comes down to how long a trench stays open and how it was dug, not the hour on the clock. Crews digging on tight schedules, especially on smaller residential or utility jobs, sometimes skip shoring or sloping the walls to save time, and that choice matters more than whether the work happens in the morning or afternoon.
Soil conditions shift with the weather. Rain in the days before a dig can saturate soil and make trench walls heavier and less stable, while dry, sandy soil can crumble without warning, even in clear conditions. Heat and fatigue over a long shift can also dull a crew's attention to warning signs such as cracking soil or small slides along the top edge of a trench.
Collapses tend to happen fast once they start, often within seconds, which is why workers inside an unprotected trench have little time to react. Most fatal incidents involve trenches that were not shored, braced, or sloped to code, regardless of the season or time of day the work was scheduled.
Frequently Asked Questions
What usually causes trench or excavation accidents?
Most are linked to a lack of proper shoring, bracing, or sloping of trench walls, often combined with unstable or saturated soil that gives way under its own weight.
How does trench depth affect the danger?
Even a few feet of soil can weigh enough to crush or suffocate a person in seconds. Deeper trenches increase both the force of a collapse and the difficulty of a rescue.
Why is distracted or rushed work especially risky on excavation sites?
Workers and operators focused on finishing quickly may miss early warning signs, such as cracking soil, small slides, or water seeping into the trench, that signal a collapse is imminent.
Do weather and soil conditions play a role?
Yes. Rain, groundwater, and loose or sandy soil all weaken trench walls and increase the risk of sudden collapse, even on sites that seemed stable earlier in the day.
What to Do After a Trench Collapse in Orange, TX
If you witness a trench or excavation accident, call 911 immediately and avoid entering the trench yourself, since a partial collapse can quickly become a full one. Let trained rescue crews assess the site before anyone approaches.
Anyone involved in or near a worksite incident should seek medical evaluation even if injuries seem minor at first, since crush injuries and breathing problems from a collapse are not always obvious right away. Workers and witnesses should also write down what they saw as soon as possible, while details are fresh, since investigators from the sheriff's office and OSHA will likely want accounts of the on-site conditions.
Following up with the employer and any investigating agency can help families obtain accurate information as the review progresses.
