The U.S. Dept. of Labor has proposed $201,600 in penalties against O’Neill, Neb.-based John Prouty Construction, Inc., for alleged safety violations related to a Sept. 12, 2008 trench collapse that killed four workers.
The accident occurred near Verdel, Neb., and caused a chain reaction of fatalities. The four workers died after the trench collapsed and one of the workers, Travis Lunn, 24, of O’Neill, fell into the trench. Three of Lunn’s coworkers tried to rescue him and were caught in the trench. Also killed were David Peterson, 35, of O’Neill; Gary Forsch, 61, of Spencer, Neb.; and Brad Kelly, 43, of Lynch, Neb. Verdel is a town of about 60 residents that is just south of the South Dakota state line.