A 26-year-old Mays Landing man escaped with minor injuries after emergency crews worked to free him from a recycled asphalt bin at a Doughty Road facility.
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. — A 26-year-old worker was rescued Tuesday morning after becoming trapped waist-deep in recycled asphalt at an Egg Harbor Township facility, where emergency crews spent approximately 2½ hours freeing him while facing the danger of additional material collapsing.
Cameron Briggs, of Mays Landing, was inside a recycled asphalt bin at AE Stone, 1435 Doughty Road, when he fell backward and a portion of the asphalt collapsed onto his lower body, according to the Egg Harbor Township Police Department.
Police communications received the emergency call at approximately 6:03 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Briggs was trapped in a seated position with his legs extended in front of him and asphalt covering him to just above his waist.
Workers at the facility initially attempted to free him but were unsuccessful after approximately 20 minutes and called for emergency assistance.
Despite the weight of the asphalt pinning him in place, Briggs remained conscious and alert throughout the ordeal, police said.
The rescue was complicated by the possibility that several additional tons of asphalt could collapse onto him.
Emergency responders from multiple agencies worked to safely remove Briggs from the bin. He was successfully extricated after approximately 2½ hours.
Briggs was transported by emergency medical personnel to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries and further evaluation.
The operation involved the Egg Harbor Township Police Department, Farmington Volunteer Fire Department, Bargaintown Volunteer Fire Department, Cardiff Volunteer Fire Department and Atlantic City Fire Department, including its Technical Rescue Team.
Also responding were Egg Harbor Township EMS, AtlantiCare paramedics, Egg Harbor Township Public Works and the Atlantic County Office of Emergency Management.
Police did not provide additional details about what caused the initial collapse or whether the incident is under investigation.
