A 29-year-old construction worker died Thursday afternoon after a trench collapse at an apartment complex in far northwest Dallas, near Coppell, officials confirmed. The incident occurred shortly before 3:30 p.m. at the Sage Hill at Cypress Waters development on Sage Hill Lane, close to Olympus Boulevard.

Dallas Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Susana Solis said emergency responders arrived around 3:20 p.m. after workers manually digging a tunnel beneath the apartment building found the trench suddenly give way, trapping the worker underneath. The victim was identified as Josias David Pedro Aquino by the Dallas County medical examiner’s office. Rescue crews had to cut through the concrete floor and remove approximately three feet of dirt to reach him. Aquino was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:30 p.m.

City of Coppell spokeswoman Ginene Delcioppo reported the collapse happened during concrete pouring and confirmed the integrity of the building itself was not compromised. Multiple first responders remained at the site for several hours to stabilize the area around the cave-in and facilitate rescue operations. A compact excavator was brought in shortly after 6 p.m. to aid in digging near the collapse, alongside a hydro excavation truck that used pressurized water to liquefy and remove soil debris safely.

Officials from the Coppell Fire Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also responded and were present during the operations. Coppell authorities were released from the scene by early evening. Neighbors at the apartment complex observed the response from their balconies as crews continued their work into the evening.

Efforts to obtain further details from OSHA and the construction company involved in the project were not immediately successful. The circumstances surrounding the collapse, including potential safety protocols and equipment usage, remain under investigation.

This incident marks another fatal trench collapse in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in recent years. In 2024, a similar event in Lewisville resulted in the death of a 38-year-old construction worker buried when trench walls collapsed. That case led to a lawsuit filed by the worker’s widow alleging inadequate safety equipment provided by contractors.

Authorities continue to examine the specific causes of Thursday’s collapse as part of ongoing safety and regulatory reviews.