Northeast Mo. trench collapses, killing city worker

PERRY, Mo. (AP) -- A trench in northeast Missouri collapses killing a city employee from Perry and injuring another worker.

City officials said a crew was digging out a sewer main that was blocked when the two men entered the trench to fix the blockage on Tuesday night.

The walls collapsed, burying 29-year-old Tim Epperson and trapping 19-year-old Tony Painter. Painter was dug out by hand several minutes after the collapse. But it took emergency crews about 25 minutes to remove Epperson.

Both men were transported to Hannibal Regional Hospital, where Epperson was pronounced dead. Painter was treated for minor injuries before being released.

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Information from: Chris Newbrough/KXEO-AM, http://info.kxeo.com