GoFundMe launched for family of woman killed in Stanislaus-area tunnel collapse
A fundraiser has been launched to support the family of a woman killed in a tunnel collapse near Knights Ferry earlier this week.
Twyla Capurro, 35, of Coulterville, died Tuesday after an irrigation tunnel collapsed at a work site in Calaveras County near the Stanislaus County line, according to authorities. One other worker was injured.
A GoFundMe created for Capurro’s family describes her as a loving mother to two young boys, a devoted fiancée and someone known for her “contagious smile” and “adventurous spirit.”
Capurro’s Facebook profile says she was a geologist with Provost & Pritchard Consulting Group. She was working at the Canyon Tunnel Project site. It’s a bypass tunnel for the Oakdale and South San Joaquin irrigation districts’ Joint Supply Canal.
The fundraiser says Capurro’s death was the result of a workplace accident and that donations will help cover funeral expenses and provide support for her fiancé and children.
“Our hope is to give the family the time and space they need to grieve and begin to heal, without the added stress of financial worries,” the page states.
The fundraiser also describes Capurro as someone who “built a life filled with love and care for her family and friends,” adding that her sudden loss has left a profound void.
The collapse happened about 3:42 p.m. Tuesday at a tunneling project near Schell and Sonora roads. Capurro was inside the tunnel when it collapsed and was later declared dead at the scene.
Fire crews spent hours working to safely recover her from about 200 feet inside the tunnel, officials said.
The cause of the collapse remains under investigation.
This story was originally published April 15, 2026 at 3:28 PM.
