3 Men Working Underground In Florida Collapse, Die
KEY LARGO, Fla. (AP/KDKA) - Officials say three men working underground on a road project in the Florida Keys died Monday.
According to Monroe County spokeswoman Cammy Clark, one of the men working for the county's contractor went down a drainage manhole Monday morning to investigate why a newly paved Key Largo road was settling nearby.
CBS Miami reports what followed was a chain reaction. One worker went into the manhole and collapsed because of gasses. A second worker went into rescue him and collapsed as well. The same thing happened to a third worker who tried to help him.
Investigators say the men were overwhelmed by a combination of methane and hydrogen sulfide gas coming out of the 15-foot deep hole. Officials say this is concerning because manholes such as that one should be properly ventilated and it appeared it had ventilation problems.
Sheriff's spokeswoman Becky Herrin says two workers were pronounced dead after being pulled from the hole. She says the third worker "has still not been recovered and is presumed dead."
The firefighter and deputies were hospitalized.
"One firefighter decided to take his air pack off to attempt a rescue. He succumbed to gas as well," Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay said.
Five nearby homes were evacuated.
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