Update: 1:20 p.m. Friday
The victim in Thursday’s construction accident at Rock Creek High School has been identified.
Pottawatomie County Sheriff Shane Jager says 45-year-old Matthew Becker of rural Manhattan died as a result of a fall into a 12-foot trench during construction activities on the south side of the campus, near the new baseball fields. Becker, along with his wife was co-owner Powercat Electric, LLC.
Emergency personnel initially attempted a rescue, but it later turned into a recovery effort after he was pronounced dead on scene.
1:30 p.m. Thursday
The Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a death involving a construction worker at Rock Creek High School Thursday morning.
Pottawatomie County EMS and Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched around 8:15 a.m. after a construction worker fell into a trench approximately 12 feet deep and became trapped. A short time later, the effort went from rescue to recovery. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene. The name and age of the individual is not being released pending family notification. The person was not a district employee.
The Sheriff’s Office, EMS, Fire and the Manhattan Fire Department were all on-scene for the rescue and recovery efforts. The investigation remains ongoing.
