Patient rescued after tractor slides into trench at Columbia landfill

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

One person was rescued on Monday afternoon after a tractor pulling a hydroseeder slid into a 24-foot trench at the Columbia landfill, the Columbia Fire Department shared on its social media.

Crews were called to the 5700 block of Peabody Road at 4:01 p.m. The post says the operator of the hydroseeder was ejected. Firefighters were able to speak to the patient – who had serious injuries – at 4:12 p.m.

“After locating the patient, crews quickly assessed the scene, stabilized the area and began to deploy trench rescue equipment with a focus on establishing a safe operational environment,” the post says. “Firefighters accessed the patient from a safe location, performed a medical evaluation and prepared for an extremely technical trench rescue operation.”

The victim was able to reach outside the trench and was eventually brought to an area hospital, the post says.