First responders in Charleroi trench collapse honored
CARNEGIE – Vincenzo Lopez expressed his gratitude to the emergency responders who rescued him from a trench that collapsed in Charleroi Aug. 28.
The Belle Vernon resident recalled his five hours spent in the trench at an event held Tuesday at the Urban Search and Rescue Pennsylvania Strike Team 1 facility in Carnegie, where the efforts of multiple first responders and organizations who worked in the rescue effort were recognized.
“I thought you all need to hear this from the heart,” Lopez said to the roomful of first responders. “Without all of you, without all of your collected efforts, I would not be here. I would not be standing here. The sacrifices you make every day, they matter. I’m glad I can be a representation of how much that matters. I owe you my future every day. My brothers, my sisters, my neighbors, I love you.”
Lopez, 28, suffered only a broken ankle, a cut under his chin and a chipped tooth from the ordeal after being trapped chest-deep in dirt as the trench collapsed in the 800 block of McKean Avenue, in front of Davies Ford in the borough’s business district.
Lopez said he was able to remain rather calm as there was always someone with him. He also felt a sense of relief when he was able to wiggle his legs a bit while trapped in the clay.
“I’m a fairly calm person,” he said. “I don’t really get worked up that easily about things. It definitely came down to the support that I had to help keep me calm. I felt the love. I knew I would make it out thanks to the team and the people that were with me.”
Emergency personnel from nearly 40 companies in surrounding counties worked together to save Lopez and each organization was mentioned for recognition Tuesday by state Sen. Camera Bartolotta.
“Due to an incredibly coordinated and professional effort by all involved at approximately 1:30 a.m., Vincenzo was safely rescued, walking up the ladder on his own and transported to AHN in good spirits,” she said. “Vincenzo is here today to personally join in thanking each of you for the incredible teamwork and dedication that saved his life.”
The ceremony was co-hosted by state Sen. Devlin Robinson, who also praised the first responders.
“It was a life-or-death situation,” he said. “One that demanded precision, courage and teamwork under extraordinary circumstances. In those moments, every second counted, and our first responders did what they always do – they acted. With skill, determination and unity they worked tirelessly to bring Vincenzo to safety.”
Charleroi fire Chief Robert Whiten Jr. coordinated the rescue efforts that began the night of Aug. 28 and continued into the early morning hours Aug. 29. He said even a surgeon was on hand if those services were necessary.
“It was a well-oiled machine,” he said. “Mostly everybody hadn’t worked together. It was heart-warming to know that everybody had our backs in little old Charleroi. You make a lot of friends in 48 years, and I was calling them all out that night. Those friends came and it worked out really well. Everybody knew their job. There were a lot of people standing around complaining because they weren’t doing anything, but if we needed something in that minute, at least we knew they were there ready to go.”
Whiten said Lopez attended a borough council meeting to express his thanks and made a donation to the Charleroi Fire Department.
“He was crying and said he wanted to show that he appreciated everything we did,” Whiten said. “It was really nice to meet him and for him to know that we did our job and he got out of that hole, basically in one piece.”