MIAMI TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Last Friday, life for Claudia Ramirez and her family was forever changed when her cousin, Jose Alberto Barajas, was killed in a trench collapse in Miami Township.

Miami Township fire officials said that three people were putting underground pipes in on Valley Forge Drive when a trench collapsed on them .

Officials said preliminary information suggests the three were contractors working on installing water control piping. Standard trench safety systems, usually required for this type of work, were not in place, officials said.

The recovery was grueling and lasted over six hours. Eventually, two workers were pulled from the trench and were conscious. However, Barajas died at the scene.

"We didn't know how to process it because it was so unexpected," Ramirez said.

See Full Page