Richard Eugene Tolman, 24, laborer, died helping to rescue Jack Lewis, 25, contractor, from a cave-in in an excavation, Highland Park, Illinois, October 28, 1959. When a cave-in occurred in the unshored section of a sewer excavation where he was working 16.5 feet below ground level, Lewis was thrown to his knees and covered with three feet of clay. A large bucket on the boom of a ditching machine was suspended above Lewis in an attempt to help protect against further slides, and the other workmen began to remove the fallen dirt. Tolman was attracted while driving home from work, entered the excavation, and aided in uncovering the head of Lewis. Persons outside the ditch then called warnings that a second slide was starting. The four other workers quickly climbed out; but Tolman, who was nearest to Lewis, placed both hands against one side of the narrow ditch and leaned his back against the other side, bracing himself across the excavation in an effort to hold back as much of the slide as he could. Several tons of clay slid into the excavation, knocking Tolman down and covering him to two feet above his head. Tolman’s position and the bucket diverted the slide from Lewis. The men entered the ditch and uncovered the head of Tolman, who was alive but having difficulty breathing. The workmen left at warning of another slide, which covered Tolman to a depth of three feet. Tolman was unconscious when removed from the excavation 25 minutes later. He could not be revived. Additional shoring was installed; and Lewis, who escaped serious injury, was freed. 44876-4302
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