Trench victim is identified

Authorities have identified a man who was buried alive in a trench that collapsed Monday afternoon on Warner Avenue.

Javier Iniguez, 32, was a Huntington Park resident who was working about 8 feet underground about 2 p.m. Monday to waterproof an apartment building foundation at 4671 Warner Ave. when the soil-and-concrete trench he was working in collapsed, authorities said.

Huntington Beach Deputy Fire Marshall Jeff Lopez said Iniguez was pitched into the hole headfirst, and was pronounced dead when rescue workers were able to reach him at 3:09 p.m. to check for vital signs.

Dozens of apartment residents were evacuated from their dwellings while firefighters from Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa and the Orange County Fire Authority’s Heavy Rescue team worked with police to attempt to rescue Iniguez, and Warner Avenue westbound was shut down for hours.

A representative from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration arrived on the scene to investigate the working conditions and interview Iniguez’ co-workers.

The investigation is ongoing, authorities said.

Reporter CANDICE BAKER may be reached at (714) 966-4631 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.