Collapsed trench injures 2 at Prosser construction site. Stop-work order issued

Two workers were rescued after a trench collapsed and trapped them at a housing construction project in Prosser on Sunday morning, according to West Benton Fire Rescue.

Both were taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland, one by air ambulance and the other by ground ambulance.

Prosser police and West Benton Fire Rescue were called to 1401 Kinney Way in Prosser about 11:30 a.m. Sunday.

Prosser city officials inspected the site after the trench collapsed and determined that adequate trench safety measures were not being used, according to the city.

The city issued a stop work notice Sunday to Paul and Julie Almanza of Granger, Wash., citing Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations adopted in the Prosser Municipal Code.

Trenches and excavations at the site must be filled in, the notice said.-

No further information was available Sunday afternoon on the conditions of the workers or what happened at the site.

This story was originally published June 22, 2025 at 4:00 PM.