2 teens die buried under tons of dirt after embankment collapses in S. Carolina

NEW ELLENTON, S.C. (AP) An earthen embankment collapsed at a construction site, killing two teenagers who were buried under an estimated five tons of dirt, authorities said.<br/><br/>Joshua McLaughlin,

Monday, December 18th 2006, 2:36 pm

By: News On 6

NEW ELLENTON, S.C. (AP) An earthen embankment collapsed at a construction site, killing two teenagers who were buried under an estimated five tons of dirt, authorities said.

Joshua McLaughlin, 15, and Mathew Morris, 14, died Sunday while playing at the site ear McLaughlin's home, Coroner Tim Carlton said.

After family members went searching for the boys, a relative found McLaughlin's body and called 911. Morris was found about one hour later, Carlton said.

Fire Chief Clifford Crawford said the pile of dirt that collapsed on the boys was about 20 feet high.

"We found them slightly under ground level. One of them was probably under four feet of dirt," said Clifford, who estimated about five tons of soil had fallen on the teens.

Family members at the McLaughlin home declined to speak with a reporter Monday.