MONROE – An 88-year-old Monroe man was injured Sunday when a gravel pit bank caved in, covering him chest-deep in gravel, rocks and roots.

Don Eastman, owner of the pit, was taken by ambulance to Waldo County General Hospital in Belfast, according to Deputy Wade Brown of the Waldo County Sheriff’s Department.

Brown said that Eastman’s injuries were believed to include compressed vertebrae and a possible hip fracture.

Eastman was later transferred to Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, where he was still being evaluated late Sunday.

According to Brown, the accident occurred about 11:30 a.m., as Eastman was removing large rocks from the bucket of a front-end loader he was using to deposit gravel into a truck for a customer. As Eastman worked between the bucket and the bank, the bank caved in, sending a torrent of gravel in his direction.

Though the gravel pushed him into the bucket, Eastman managed to keep himself from being submerged by grabbing the top of the bucket, Brown said.

Eastman, who was alone when the accident occurred, was found within minutes by his customer, Cecil Porter, who had dug him out by the time Brown arrived.

Brown said that Eastman was conscious the entire time and was able to speak with the ambulance personnel from Brooks who took him to the hospital in Belfast.