No Criminal Charges Over Trench Collapse

Thursday, July 25, 2019 | 0

The owner of a Wyoming resort fined $10,532 for a trench collapse that killed two workers will not face criminal charges, the Jackson Hole News and Guide reports.

Teton County prosecutor Erin Weisman said there was insufficient evidence to support filing charges against Jamie Mackay, owner of the Fireside Resort in Wilson.

Mackay may still end up in court to defend a civil case filed by the families of Juan Baez-Sanchez, 42, and Victoriano Garcia-Perez, 56, who died in September 2018 when a 12-foot trench collapsed on top of them.

The wrongful death lawsuit seeks more than $1 million in damages.

Mackay on July 9 asked the court to dismiss the complaint.

The Wyoming Occupational Safety and Health Administration in March proposed penalties totaling $10,532 for serious violations, including failure to protect workers against trench cave-ins, and lack of supervision at the site.