CARLSBAD -- A construction worker was trapped in a collapsed trench from the waist down for about an hour Tuesday when part of it gave way at Alga Road and Melrose Avenue in eastern Carlsbad.

Steve Yucata was part of a crew from Erreca's Incorporated Construction working on a recycled water transmission main for the city of Carlsbad.

According to the company's co-owner, Scott Erreca, Yucata was standing inside the 15-foot-deep trench, checking the elevation of a pipe before it was placed. As he backed away to make room for the pipe that was to come in, a small section of the trench collapsed, encasing him in soil and rock.

After firefighters dug out Yucata, who remained conscious throughout the incident, he was flown by Mercy Air to Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla.

Despite initial fears that he might have broken a leg, it appeared that Yucata had only sprained his ankle.

Construction workers have to follow strict procedures while strengthening trenches in which they are working.

According to Erreca and fire officials, the construction crew followed the proper safety procedures, making the accident much less severe than it might have been.

"The shoring up that was in place acted as protection for the worker and our rescuers," said Carlsbad Fire Battalion Chief Jim Torretto. "The victim was very fortunate. He could have been totally engulfed and potentially suffocated."

Torretto added that these types of rescues can be very dangerous due to the risk of further collapse and hazards from natural-gas and electrical lines. He said construction crew members had distinguished themselves in their handling of the situation.

According to Carlsbad communications manager Denise Vedder, the construction crew will now have to fill the trench back in and begin again with new safety measures in place.

"This is a good lesson for all of us in construction," said Erreca. "The first rule is that you assume nothing. We were lucky the trench was shored up like it was or things could have been much worse."

An employee at the city's inspections department said that the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health decided not to investigate because the trench collapse was not considered life-threatening.

Contact Staff Writer Edward Graham at egraham@nctimes.com.