Mold Remediation in Catonsville, MD

After more than seven hours, two construction workers were pronounced dead after becoming trapped in a trench in Catonsville Friday afternoon, per Baltimore County Fire officials.

The trapped workers had been in critical condition since the collapse, but many were still holding on to hope as rescue operations continued after sundown.

Officials said crews responded to the 500 block of Academy Road at 11:35 a.m. for a trench rescue.

According to fire officials, the two construction workers were reinforcing a retainer wall of bricks and stone when it fell on them, trapping them in a 6-foot trench.

About 50 to 60 fire and rescue personnel were on the scene around 12:30 p.m., according to Lt. Twana Allen.

Lt. Allen said the first step was to shore up the trench to ensure the dirt will not cave in on rescue workers or the trapped individuals. Officials then devised a plan to rescue the trapped workers.

"They have to remove that carefully so that when they do get to the patient, you know, it doesn't create any further injury," Allen told WJZ Reporter Stephon Dingle. "So there, it's a calculated method and it does take time, but they want to make sure that they are doing so in the safest measures, which they are. Unfortunately, like I said, they are very well trained for this, and collaboration with Baltimore City Rescue and Howard County Rescue, you know, mutually, we always work well together with them as well."

Shortly before 7:30 p.m., Baltimore County Fire Department announced the two workers had been extricated and were pronounced dead.

They have been identified as 24-year-old Emerson Amestica and 32-year-old Wilmer Barzallo.

Similar rescue efforts

Fire crews carried out a similar rescue effort in early February, removing a man and a child from icy water at Druid Ridge Cemetery in Pikesville. Both were stable when they were transported to a hospital.

In October 2024, a man was rescued a day after falling 30 feet into a well in Catonsville. Crews were able to pull the man out after he had spent almost 24 hours in the confined space. He was taken to a hospital with serious injuries.

MARYLAND — You don’t have to be a mathematical whiz to calculate the savings Marylanders can score on pizzas and pies on Pi Day, which will be observed Friday to commemorate the mathematical constant pi.

While you don’t have to understand pi to claim the deals, it does help to understand what Pi Day — an unofficial holiday celebrating the ancient mathematical constant by people who enjoy math and science that falls on Albert Einstein’s birthday — has to do with discounts on some of our favorite indulgences in Maryland.

Pi represents the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Combined with the circular shape of pies and pizzas, the same-sounding pronunciation of “pi” and “pie,” and sameness in the value of pi, 3.14 and the expression of March 14 as 3/14, Pi Day has turned into a major marketing event.

These deals are good on Friday only, unless otherwise noted. As always, it’s a good idea to call ahead to make sure locations in Maryland are participating.

7-Eleven: A large pizza costs $3.14 at 7-Eleven, as well as Speedway and Stripes locations.

Find out what's happening in Columbiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Blaze Pizza: Buy an 11-inch pizza and get a second pizza for $3.14.

BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse: A full-sized Pizbookie costs $3.14 with the purchase of one at regular price. The offer is for dine-in customers only.

Burger King: A Hershey’s Pie is free with a $3.14 or more purchase.

California Pizza Kitchen: Rewards members can get one pepperoni, cheese or The Original BBQ Chicken pizza for $3.14 with a dine-in or take-out purchase of $25 or more on both Thursday and Friday.

DoorDash: The delivery service is offering Pi Day deals at Pizza Hut ($6 off orders of $30 or more); Sbarro ($7 off orders of $25 or more on Thursday and Friday and $8 off $25 or more for DashPass members); and Hungry Howie’s (a free bread on orders of $30 or more).

Famous Dave’s: The barbecue chain is celebrating Pi Day with a free slice of Baker’s Square pie with purchases of $10 or more. The offer is good on online, in-app and in-store orders.

Harry & David Pies: Use the promo code HD50 on food items at the gourmet food vendor, including pies, for savings of $10 on a purchase of $89-$128.99; $20 off a purchase of $129-$198.99; and $50 off a purchase of $199 or more.

Marco’s Pizza: A medium, one-topping pizza costs $3.14 with the purchase of any extra-large, menu-priced pizza with the code PIDAY. The offer is available for online and app orders only.

Papa Murphy’s: Regular-priced items are 31.4 percent off with the prompt code PIDAY25 at checkout, either online or using the app.

Pieology Pizzeria: Rewards members can earn double Perks points on a purchase of a Create Your Own Pizza, Calzone or salad.

Pizza Hut: In this buy one, get one offer, use the code FREE PIZZA at the checkout when ordering online.

Smoothie King: A 20-ounce Apple Pie Smoothie costs $3.14 with the app.

Taco Bell: A Mexican Pizza costs $3.14 on Pi Day.

Village Inn: A slice of pie is free for dine-in customers with the purchase of an entrée and a beverage.