Construction worker killed in Sterling Heights trench collapse ID'd

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (WJBK) - The Sterling Heights Police Department has identified a construction worker who died Monday afternoon when a trench he was working in collapsed.

Jason Holmes, 39, died Monday while working in the trench along Mound Road between 18 Mile and 19 Mile in Sterling Heights. 

The Sterling Heights man was down in the trench to connect a water pipe but authorities said he did not shore up the walls. That mistake cost him his life.

According to authorities in Sterling Heights, Holmes was working alone in in the 12-foot deep trench went it collapsed around 1:40 Monday afternoon. 

Sterling Heights Fire Chief Chris Martin said Monday that Holmes should have had backup in the trench.

"There were several safety practices that weren't instituted and that's what got us to this point," Martin said.

Construction worker killed in Sterling Heights trench collapse

Martin tells FOX 2 the contractor who hired the man was on site when the walls caved in but it was too late. The rescue effort by the Macomb County Technical Rescue Team soon turned into a body recovery effort.

The company that Holmes was working for was not released.