Asphalt Worker Suffocates After Falling Into Silo of Sand

A worker at an asphalt company fell into a 40-foot-high silo filled with sand and suffocated Friday.

James Higgins, 38, of Pomona, described as a hard worker and avid gold prospector, was found after a four-hour search by fire rescue workers and employees of the All-American Asphalt Co. in the 14500 block of Edwards Avenue.

Higgins was working inside a silo filled with 40 tons of sand when he apparently slipped off a ladder and disappeared. “It’s like quicksand,” said fellow worker Wilbur Daniels. “It just rolls up around and drags you down.”

Co-worker Bill Villa said he noticed at 6:30 p.m. that Higgins was missing. “I went up to the catwalk, I saw the ladder. The lifeline was stuck in the sand.”

Glenn Canada, manager of the asphalt company, whisked Higgins’ wife, Georgeann, into an office where she began calling relatives. Huddled in a gray Army blanket, she broke down in tears when told her husband was dead.

“He was a real nice, super guy and a good hard worker,” Canada said of Higgins, a 13-year employee of All-American Asphalt.

Westminster and Huntington Beach fire department workers began their search for Higgins by raising hook and ladders to the top of the silo. From there rescue workers wearing safety lines climbed into the sand and began poking into it with shovels and long poles.

After probing the top layers, rescuers began to drain the sand from the silo, Westminster Fire Battalion Chief Hal Raphael said. The silo is one of eight at the site containing materials used for producing asphalt.

After draining a third of the sand, workers found Higgins’ body.