San Diego, CA (August 31, 2024) – On August 30, the identity of a 27-year-old construction worker who died this week in an accident at a job site near Scripps Ranch High School was made public.
The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office says that around 4:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Joel Olea Gomez of San Marcos was in a trench that collapsed. Per authorities, he was trapped under dirt and a large concrete pipe that workers were putting in as part of a water system project at Hoyt Park Drive and Scripps Ranch Boulevard. Deputy Chief Dan Eddy of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFRD) confirmed that Gomez died at the scene.
Eddy added that a second worker, who was in the pit at the time of the accident, was able to get out without getting stuck. According to SDFRD public relations, it took more than four hours for emergency workers to stabilize the trench so that it wouldn’t collapse again before they could remove Gomez. Cal/OSHA was called to the scene to investigate, though no further details were released in the meantime.
If you’ve lost a loved one in a workplace accident, call the San Diego wrongful death lawyers at Leiva Law Firm to learn more about your legal outlook and compensation options to recover burial costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages arising from your close one’s tragic death. Call us at (818) 519-4465 to schedule a complimentary appointment with our efficient legal team.