Accident on County Road Project Leads to 3 Fatalities

KEY LARGO, FL –  An accident at a Monroe County road project In Key Largo has led to the death of three men working for the project’s general contractor, Douglas N. Higgins, according to fire officials and contractor officials at the scene.

The incident began Monday morning when a man went inside a drainage manhole to investigate why the newly paved Long Key Road was settling at that location. That man got trapped. Three other workers with Douglas N. Higgins, a volunteer firefighter with Key Largo Volunteer Fire Department and two Monroe County Sheriff’s Office deputies tried to help. The firefighter and two deputies were taken to Mariners Hospital in Tavernier. The firefighter was transported by Trauma Star air ambulance to Ryder Trauma Center. The deputies are being treated with non-life threatening ailments. The fourth worker for Douglas N. Higgins was treated at the scene.

At this time, it is unknown what caused the men’s deaths. The Monroe County Medical Examiner is on the way to the accident.

There are no gas lines in the area. Residents at the end of Long Key Road were evacuated as a precaution. A hazardous materials team from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue arrived at 10:37 a.m. to investigate.

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