Emergency crews have recovered the body of a 35-year-old construction worker who was killed when a trench collapsed, partially burying him Thursday morning.

The incident happened around 9:30 a.m. near Route 440 in Jersey City near a shopping center that contains an Acme Supermarket and Capital One Bank.

Officials say that construction crews were removing and installing water pipes when the trench collapsed, trapping the worker. His body was partially buried and he was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was recovered nearly five hours later at 2:15 p.m.

"They did in fact see that the 35-year-old male was in the trench pretty much buried up to his chest area. It was later determined by EMS personnel that he did pass away,” says Jersey City Office of Emergency Management director Greg Kierce.

The worker’s name was not immediately released.

Jersey City officials and OSHA will investigate the incident.