03/22/2026
Contractor Charged With Manslaughter After Trench Collapse Death
A Connecticut contractor faces three criminal charges, including first-degree manslaughter, following the death of a worker in a trench collapse.
Amilcar Deandrade, 51, the owner of Diamond Plumbing & Heating LLC of Norwich, is also charged with criminally negligent homicide and first-degree reckless endangerment.
The charges stem from a cave-in around 6 p.m. June 13 in Norwich. Michael DiRocco Sr., 60, of Norwich was partially buried in the trench, which was between 4 feet 10 inches to 5 feet 4 inches deep with vertical walls.
He had been helping to install pipes for a residential sewer project. He was rescued from the trench but later died at the hospital. He was a father of four and grandfather of eight, according to a GoFundMe page that raised money for funeral expenses for his family.
Diamond Plumbing was initially fined $296,600 by the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration for five violations. The fine was later reduced to $60,000, according to online OSHA records.
According to the citations issued December 8, Diamond was cited for the following violations:
Willful violation — Trench not protected from cave-ins by an adequate protective system, like a trench box.
Willful — Spoil piles were placed within 2 feet from the edge of the trench.
Willful — The employer, as the competent person on site, did not ensure the trench and adjacent areas were inspected before work and as needed during work.
Serious — No stairway, ladder or ramps as a safe means to enter and exit the trench.
Serious — The employer did not ensure the employee was protected from electrical hazards when the employer operated an excavator near a 120/240-volt residential powerline.
After an investigation, the Norwich Police Department recommended that Deandrade, who was on site during the incident, be charged.
Source: https://www.equipmentworld.com/regulations/safety-compliance/article/15819736/contractor-charged-with-manslaughter-after-trench-collapse-death
