Family remembers son who lost his life on the job in Snyder
ABILENE, Texas () – A family from Texas is raising awareness about worker safety. While working in the renewable energy field in Snyder, 24-year-old Wyatt Denson lost his life on August 19, 2022. His dad, Shawn Denson, explains that his son was working and things turned unexpectedly.
'Wyatt was the first to jump in for any task, and this task was not even his. But he decided to help out, and an incident occurred: a skid that weighed approximately 1,800 to 2,000 pounds fell from where it should have been. It crushed our son, and he never knew what happened,' shared Denson.
Denson was working on the far side of the job site when he was summoned to the office and informed of the tragic news. Overwhelmed with grief, he had to call Wyatt's mother, Wendy Zavala. In her time of sorrow, Zavala chose to remember her son for his kindness and strong sense of family.
'He was a gentle giant. He was six foot four, personality galore; probably the most giving person I've ever met. There isn't a day that would go by that you didn't get a hug, or, you know, he would come home and say, 'Mom, get up. I'm going to dance you around the house.' He would dance me around the house; he loved to dance,' explained Zavala.
While over the years the grief doesn't get easier, the family has honored Wyatt's life by raising awareness about worker safety. Zavala became a board member for United Support & Memorial for Workplace Fatalities.
'According to the National Labor Board, the latest statistics show that 564 people died in Texas in 2023. That's the latest that's out. That equates to one every 15 hours, so one person every 15 hours does that at work. Our goal is to push legislation; none of this brings it back at all, but sharing what story, if it can make somebody stop and think about what they're doing, or maybe a company revamping their safety program, is the main thing,' added Zavala.
As for Denson he raises awareness at every job site and to people he knows as he shares with enough education and safety protocols his son's death could have been preventable.
'In my opinion, it's, with enough mitigation and enough planning, all of the accidents are preventable. It just takes enough people and enough time to slow down and really understand what you're doing so that any of the dangers are mitigated. It's a battle every day. I miss my baby every day, and nothing can bring that back. But hopefully, some education in the future will prevent any other parents from going through this grief,' expressed Denson.
A billboard on South Treadaway features a photo of Wyatt, aimed at raising awareness about worker safety. On Monday, April 28, Workers Memorial Day was observed—a day dedicated to honoring those who have lost their lives while on the job. Denson and Zavala share that their family is large, and the loss of a loved one will take a lifetime to grieve. However, they hope that by sharing their son's story, they can help save at least one life.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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