GEORGETOWN, IDAHO -- A terrible construction accident has left two workers dead. It happened last Thursday when a Taylor Construction crew was working on a new sewage system for the city Georgetown.
Jody Taylor says his son, 19-year-old Bo Taylor, and a co-worker, 46-year-old Trent Sorensen both died. Jody says it was a toxic combination of fumes inside a manhole that caused his son to pass out, then drown in the water below.
"The sealant we figure is what put off the fumes with the reaction of PVC liner, the fumes reacted with each other," said Taylor.
Jody says he believes Trent realized something was wrong, and went into the manhole as well to help get him out. He says Trent suffered from asthma and believes that had to do with his death.
"With the asthma Trent couldn't breath trying to get Bo above the water, Trent just wasn't strong enough to do it," said Taylor. Both men passed away at a local hospital later that day.
"I stood beside my boy for 4 hours while they tried to get a pulse, tried to get anything," said Taylor.
We talked to Taylor by phone, as he described the horrifying moments as he waited, hoping his son would pull through. Taylor said that Bo had worked for the family company for about two years. Taylor also said Sorensen was his best friend and had worked for the company for decades.
"We hunted, fished, there was nothing we didn't include each other in, he wasn't just my partner, he was absolutely my best friend," said Taylor. Taylor says he never dreamed an accident like this would happen -- taking his son and his friend.
"It was a clean new manhole, fresh water in it, it was a fluke, 100 % crazy accident," said Taylor. Now, he's helping to plan both funerals and he's looking back on his son's short life. "He was always happy no matter what he had to do or what he was going through he was always happy," said Taylor.
As for the safety equipment, Taylor says they had everything they needed, but could not have predicted the combination of materials would become so toxic.
Taylor says Bo's funeral is planned for Thursday at 1 p.m. through Hawker Funeral Home in Blackfoot. Trent's service is planned for Wednesday at 11 a.m., also through Hawker Funeral Home.
