Crews Building Hospital Halt Construction After Uncovering Lost Cemetery

SANTA CLARA (CBS13) – Construction on a new hospital in Santa Clara County has come to an abrupt stop after crews uncovered a lost cemetery.

Construction workers found several coffins as they were working on the new Santa Clara Valley Medical Center.

The graveyard has been paved over several decades ago to make a parking lot and records of its existence lost over time.

"There used to be a Potter's field or Pauper's cemetery there. They found about 15 pine boxes, the very end of those pine boxes," explained Deputy Santa Clara County Counsel Michael Rossi. "There could be up to 1,450 bodies."

Now the county wants a judge to order the removal of 100 graves so construction can continue.