Imagine walking along the sidewalk at night when suddenly you step off the walk, loose your balance as the ground gives way and tumble into a six-foot deep ditch.
That happened to a 47-year-old woman in the 19400 block of Brassie Place at the Thomas Choice Garden Condos in Montgomery Village around 5:50 p.m. Sunday.
Pete Piringer, fire department spokesman, says the woman fell into the unprotected trench - about six to eight feet deep - which had been dug by a utility crew along the sidewalk. He says it was dark when she fell in, and there was no barrier between the sidewalk and ditch.
The rescue took about 90 minutes. Piringer said the woman was taken to a hospital for evaluation. She suffered injuries to her leg and back, and mild hypothermia, despite the warm air rescuers pumped into the ditch while extricating her.
Piringer said Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) and the building inspectors will be investigating.
Republished with permission from WUSA9
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