Ernest L. Bradley, 36, heavy equipment operator, sustained fatal injuries helping to rescue Jack W. Berryman, 45, heavy equipment operator, from a cave-in, Chillicothe, Ohio, August 6, 1965. Berryman, operating a bulldozer, was digging a deep ditch through earthen fill which formerly had supported a roadway. A cave-in occurred at one side of the ditch, covering most of the bulldozer and knocking Berryman from the operator’s seat onto one of the tractor treads. The fallen earth covered his body to his chest as he lay on his side. Bradley immediately entered the ditch and, kneeling in front of Berryman, began digging the earth away with his hands. Another man moved to behind Bradley and aided by pushing the dirt aside as the latter dug it from around Berryman, who was semiconscious. Bradley remarked that they would have to be careful or the other side of the ditch would cave in since earth then was trickling down around Berryman’s head. The man left to get rescue equipment. As Bradley continued digging, another man entered the ditch. A man outside the ditch shouted a warning. A section of earth weighing about six tons caved in from the side nearest Bradley. The other man jumped back, and only one of his legs was trapped. Bradley managed to place his arms about his head before the falling earth knocked him face down and covered him completely. Workmen extricated Bradley and Berryman, both of whom had suffered fractures. Berryman recovered, but Bradley, who also had suffered internal injuries, died.
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