The Calaveras County community is grieving the heartbreaking loss of 35-year-old Twyla Capurro, who tragically died following a tunnel collapse at the Canyon Tunnel Project site near Knights Ferry, California, on Tuesday afternoon.
Officials reported that emergency responders from Modesto Fire and Stanislaus Consolidated Fire were dispatched to the construction site near the intersection of Schell Road and Sonora Road at approximately 3:42 p.m. after receiving reports of a tunnel failure. Upon arrival, crews located one injured worker outside the tunnel, who was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries described as minor to moderate. Another individual involved in the incident was evaluated and found unharmed.
Authorities confirmed that Capurro became trapped during the collapse. Despite extensive rescue and recovery efforts, she was later pronounced dead at the scene. The Calaveras County Coroner’s Office identified her as a resident of Coulterville, California.
Twyla Capurro served as a tunneling geologist and advisor for Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group, an engineering and design firm contributing to the project. Her role was also confirmed by officials with the South San Joaquin Irrigation District and Oakdale Irrigation District, both involved in the Canyon Tunnel Project. According to a company representative, the incident occurred when a portion of the tunnel gave way during active construction.
The Canyon Tunnel Project, valued at approximately $84 million, is a major infrastructure initiative aimed at enhancing water delivery by replacing an outdated canal system prone to landslides and rockslides. The tunnel, which will extend more than 12,000 feet, is scheduled for completion in 2028.
In response to the tragedy, Cal/OSHA has opened an investigation to determine the cause of the collapse and assess whether all safety protocols were properly followed at the time of the incident.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Capurro is being remembered as a devoted mother of two, a loving fiancé, and someone who had a deep passion for the outdoors. Those who knew her describe her as compassionate, hardworking, and fully committed to both her family and her career.
A GoFundMe page has been established to assist her family with funeral expenses during this incredibly difficult time.
Her sudden passing leaves a lasting impact on her loved ones, colleagues, and the wider community. Twyla Capurro’s legacy will live on through the lives she touched and the work she contributed.
Rest in peace, Twyla. You will always be remembered.
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