A construction worker was injured seriously Wednesday after a trench collapsed on him at the construction site of the hospital’s new imaging center on Sims Street.

Gainesville fire Chief Jon Canada said the victim was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center for treatment.

"The individual did suffer severe trauma to both of his legs," Canada said.

Canada said the 47-year-old man was doing underground pipe work at about 1 p.m. when the approximately 10-foot-deep trench partially collapsed.

"The trench was not properly shored. When a construction crew digs a trench like that it should have what’s called a trench box in it which protects the worker that’s down in the trench from any collapse of the dirt coming in on them," Canada said, adding that he believed this accident could have been prevented.

"We have turned the case over to OSHA investigators, and they’re investigating the site at this time," Canada said.