The Calaveras County community is mourning the tragic loss of 35-year-old Twyla Capurro, who lost her life following a tunnel collapse at the Canyon Tunnel Project site near Knights Ferry, California, on Tuesday afternoon.
According to officials, emergency crews from Modesto Fire and Stanislaus Consolidated Fire responded to the construction site near Schell Road and Sonora Road at approximately 3:42 p.m. after reports of a tunnel failure. When firefighters arrived, one injured worker was found outside the tunnel and transported to a nearby hospital with minor to moderate injuries. Another person involved in the incident was not injured.
Authorities confirmed that Twyla Capurro was trapped during the collapse and later pronounced dead at the scene. Her body was recovered after extended recovery efforts, and she was identified by the Calaveras County Coroner’s Office as a resident of Coulterville, California.
Capurro worked as a tunneling geologist and advisor for Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group, an engineering and design firm involved in the project. Officials with the South San Joaquin Irrigation District and Oakdale Irrigation District confirmed her role on the Canyon Tunnel Project. A company representative described the incident as involving a section of the tunnel that came loose during construction.
The Canyon Tunnel Project, an $84 million infrastructure effort, is designed to improve water delivery by replacing an aging canal system that has long been vulnerable to rockslides and landslides. The tunnel stretches more than 12,000 feet and is expected to be completed in 2028.
Cal/OSHA has launched an investigation into the incident to determine what led to the collapse and whether all required safety measures were in place at the time of the accident.
Beyond her professional achievements, Twyla is being remembered as a loving mother of two, a devoted fiancé, and a woman with a deep love for the outdoors. Those closest to her describe her as hardworking, kind, and deeply dedicated to both her family and her career.
A GoFundMe has been created to support her family with funeral expenses during this difficult time:
👉 https://gofund.me/d61bf0396
Her passing leaves a profound void in the lives of those who knew her, both personally and professionally. Twyla Capurro will be remembered for her strength, her compassion, and the impact she made in her time on this earth.
Rest in peace, Twyla. You will not be forgotten.
Leave a Reply