Worker killed and another hospitalized after water main rupture at The Villages site

A pressurized water main ruptured Tuesday morning at a construction site in The Villages, flooding an excavation trench and trapping two workers, according to FOX 35 Orlando and WKMG News 6 ClickOrlando.

The Villages Public Safety Department reported crews responded around 8 a.m. to the intersection of McNeill Drive and Harmony Drive after the rupture. The sudden release of water knocked the workers into the trench filled with water and mud.

One worker managed to escape the trench but suffered serious injuries and was transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center as a trauma alert. The other worker remained trapped beneath the mud and water.

Technical rescue specialists from the Villages Public Safety Department's Special Operations team worked to free the submerged worker. Despite their efforts, the trapped worker was pronounced dead at the scene, and rescue personnel recovered the body from the excavation.

The Wildwood Police Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding the water main rupture. Officials have not released further details about the cause of the incident.