Rootering Out The Rooter Man...

The scene was chaotic as firefighters from several companies responded to a man buried in a trench shortly before 11 a.m. this morning in Sherman Oaks.

The unidentified 25-year-old man was working at a construction site digging out sewer lines near Chandler Boulevard and Woodman Avenue when the walls of the six foot deep trench collapsed in on him.

Firefighters used plywood to shore up the sides of the trench and using a hand held excavator managed to dig him out. He was listed in critical condition but has since been upgraded to fair condition.

OSHA is expected to investigate whether the trench had been shored up correctly during construction.

A call put into the Rooter company led to an immediate hang up, which this reporter took as 'no comment'!

The photographer seen wearing the baseball cap and red shirt is none other than the infamous News Press/Burbank Leader's TAMMY ABBOTT, who eventually climbed out of a second story window onto scaffolding to get some prize winning shots.

Four Injured In Collision

Four people were injured Saturday in a three car accident at Chandler Boulevard and Woodman Avenue in Sherman Oaks.

Firefighters worked feverishly with the jaws of life to extricate two men from the car. They were both listed in critical condition with severe injuries to their lower extremities.

Two other victims were also transported to area hospitals with moderate to severe injuries.

Witnesses said that one of the vehicles ran the red light.