MIAMI TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Final Friday, life for Claudia Ramirez and her household was perpetually modified when her cousin, Jose Alberto Barajas, was killed in a trench collapse in Miami Township.
Miami Township hearth officers mentioned that three folks have been placing underground pipes in on Valley Forge Drive when a trench collapsed on them.
Officers mentioned preliminary data suggests the three have been contractors engaged on putting in water management piping. Customary trench security programs, normally required for this sort of work, weren’t in place, officers mentioned.
The restoration was grueling and lasted over six hours. Finally, two staff have been pulled from the ditch and have been acutely aware. Nevertheless, Barajas died on the scene.
“We did not know how you can course of it as a result of it was so sudden,” Ramirez mentioned.
Ramirez mentioned her cousin was a household man and was somebody she may all the time depend on.
WATCH: We spoke to Barajas’s household for the primary time after the tragic accident:
Household seeks solutions after trench collapse kills employee in Miami Township
She mentioned Barajas got here to america from Mexico two years in the past on a piece visa.
“He is all the time wished to reside his dream to be in america together with his dad and work and supply for his household again house,” Ramirez mentioned.
She mentioned Barajas lives within the Dayton space and has been working together with his dad.
Barajas’s dad was one of many males pulled from the ditch collapse.
“Simply the truth that my uncle needed to see his son taken away like that, all of it form of simply hit us,” Ramirez mentioned.
She mentioned her uncle is doing higher, however remains to be recovering. She tells us the opposite employee pulled from the accident can also be nonetheless recovering.
The Clermont County Prosecutor’s Workplace tells us they’re investigating what occurred and the potential of any prison prices.
Ramirez mentioned her household would not know why the right security measures weren’t taken.
“We simply nonetheless have not acquired any solutions on why the right instruments weren’t arrange for them and why they have been allowed to work in the kind of climate circumstances that there was,” Ramirez mentioned.
Ramirez mentioned her household, who largely reside in Texas and Mexico, is ready for Barajas’s physique to be returned house.
She mentioned her household is eternally grateful to the primary responders who helped attempt to save her cousin that evening.
“We’re simply all actually grateful that they have been in a position to get well him,” Ramirez mentioned.
