SEWER CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT CLAIMS LIFE OF MADISON CO. MAN

A Madison County man died Monday afternoon of injuries he received when a sewer construction excavation collapsed in the intersection of Louis and Brink avenues.

Cape Girardeau Police identified the victim as Jackie W. Cook, 54, of Fredericktown.

Sgt. Carl Kinnison of the Cape Girardeau Police Department said the accident occurred at about 3:55 p.m.

According to the police report, Cook was working in a 15-foot-deep trench when one wall of the trench collapsed, burying Cook up to his shoulders.

Kinnison said the victim was struck on the head by several pieces of concrete and large rocks. Fellow workers freed Cook and attempted to revive him. He was taken to Southeast Missouri Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Authorities said Cook was employed by the Bloomsdale Excavating Co. of Bloomsdale.

The company is working under contract with the city of Cape Girardeau to build a new sewer line.