The two demolition workers trapped under a collapsed building in eastern Kentucky have died.
Officials previously announced that Billy “Bo” Daniels had died in the collapse, while Alvin Nees remained trapped after a building collapsed as it was being prepared for demolition in Martin County.
On Friday afternoon, Martin County Judge-Executive Lon Lafferty told reporters that Nees had also been pronounced deceased.
Nees’ body has been recovered. Crews hope to recover Daniels’ body Friday evening, Lafferty said.
First responders were dispatched Tuesday night at approximately 6:30 to an un-operational, 11-story coal sorting structure at Martin Mine Prep Plant that collapsed, according to Kentucky Emergency Management.
Daniels was discovered deceased Wednesday morning, Martin County Sheriff John Kirk told news outlets. The two men were on the bottom floor of the structure when it collapsed.
The plant, which has been closed for several years, had been salvaged for scrap, a process that took place over the last eight months.
Gov. Andy Beshear on Wednesday morning declared a state of emergency in Martin County in an effort to mobilize state resources to assist in the rescue efforts.
Some of the non-local agencies involved in the search for the trapped worker are Jefferson County Urban Search & Rescue, the Special Operations Unit from the Lexington Fire Department, the National Guard’s Special Tactics Squadron K-9 search dog, and the Northern Kentucky Technical Rescue Team.
(Photo: Photo of collapsed coal preparation plant in Martin County, courtesy of WYMT.com)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
