Latest news with #NateCostly
The Sun
03-08-2025
- General
- The Sun
Construction worker killed after getting buried alive by ‘shifting dirt' in horror accident on site
A CONSTRUCTION worker tragically died after becoming trapped beneath six feet of collapsing earth in Arizona. Ronald Andrew Baquera Jr., known as Ronnie, 44, was working on a site in Goodyear on Monday when a trench suddenly collapsed. 3 3 3 Emergency crews were called to a construction site near Citrus and Lower Buckeye roads soon after 1pm on July 28, reports ABC15 News. They saw workers desperately using equipment to free Ronnie, who was trapped in a six-foot hole filled with fast-moving dirt. When crews took over, they noticed that as more dirt was being pulled out, more collapsed inward. Sensitive infrastructure on the site - including gas lines - meant crews had to use specialised equipment. Tragically, within half an hour, the rescue turned into a gruelling 13-hour-long recovery mission. At around 2am on July 29, crews retrieved his body from the trench. Melissa Prado, the mum of two of Ronnie's children, told ABC15 News that the family is shocked. She said: "My daughter is really torn up. She spends almost every day with him. She's a little distraught, and my son's angry.' Melissa said she is setting aside questions about what happened on that day. 'I'm sure it will come out,' she said. 'But I don't care to know right now.' Oasis fan plunges to his death 'from upper tier' of Wembley stadium during reunion gig as witness reveals horror Ronnie leaves behind two sons and a daughter. His childhood friend Nate Costly organised a vigil on Friday. He wrote in a tribute posted on Facebook: 'Ronnie was a loving father and a loyal friend - brutally honest, endlessly caring, and unforgettable.' The state's worker-safety agency, ADOSH, told ABC15 that an investigation has been launched into whether there were safety violations at the site. The outlet added that a safety report could take four to five months to complete. A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Ronnie's family with funeral and memorial expenses. It comes as a child died after becoming trapped in a storm drain during flash floods while playing outside with friends. Mason Kearns, 13, from Mount Airy, Maryland, was swept into the pipe on July 31 - just 20 feet from his home - after being caught in strong floodwaters.
Daily Mail
02-08-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Construction worker buried alive on site
By Published: Updated: An Arizona construction worker died on the job after being trapped beneath six feet of collapsing earth. Ronald Andrew Baquera Jr., or 'Ronnie,' 44, was working at a site in Goodyear on Monday when a trench suddenly collapsed. He was left trapped beneath six to seven feet of fast-moving dirt, according to AZ Central. Emergency crews arrived at the construction site at around 1pm within six minutes of receiving a call about a man trapped in a ditch. When the Goodyear Fire Department arrived, they found coworkers urgently struggling to free Baquera, who was buried beneath a massive, crushing weight of dirt. Rescue crews quickly recognized that the massive load of dirt above Baquera was creating dangerously unstable conditions within the trench. Because of sensitive infrastructure on site - including gas lines - crews were forced to slow their rescue efforts and use specialized equipment. At approximately 2am on July 29 - more than 12 hours after Baquera became trapped - crews successfully recovered his body from the trench. Fred Gonzalez was working in a trench with his 18-year-old son just feet from the one that collapsed only days earlier. Baquera leaves behind two sons and a daughter. Nate Costly, a childhood friend, organized a vigil on Friday. 'Ronnie was a loving father and a loyal friend - brutally honest, endlessly caring, and unforgettable,' Costly wrote in a heartfelt tribute to Facebook. 'He will be deeply missed.' Just hours before the vigil, construction crews were still active at the site, smoothing freshly poured sidewalks, while a bulldozer rested on a patch of dirt only feet from newly planted grass. Shatera Williams, who had known Baquera since she was 10, honored his life by singing a soulful gospel song, as reported by AZ Central. Echoing the sentiments of many, Williams described Baquera as a 'fixer' - someone who would 'fix things with laughter or his hands'. On the same day as the tragedy, the Industrial Commission of Arizona - along with partner agencies - launched an investigation into whether there were safety violations at the site, according to ABC 15. Charles Carpenter, a spokesman for the state's workplace safety agency, emphasized that investigation results typically take four to five months to be finalized. A GoFundMe page has been created to support the family with funeral and memorial expenses during this difficult time. 'Ronnie Baquera was a fun-loving, hard-working man who would do anything to help those around him,' the description reads. 'His warm heart, generous spirit, and unwavering dedication to his family and friends touched everyone who knew him.' By Saturday afternoon, the fundraiser had already raised $25,175 toward its $30,000 goal.
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- General
- Yahoo
'Unforgettable:' Friends honor construction worker killed in Goodyear accident at vigil
Nate Costly organized a vigil to honor his childhood friend, Ronald Andrew Baquera Jr., who died earlier in the week at a construction site in Goodyear. Baquera, 44, was killed on July 28 after becoming trapped in a 6- to 7-foot trench near 183rd Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road. He was buried under dirt while working at the site. Due to the complexity of the scene and safety concerns, rescue crews were unable to reach Baquera in time. About 30 minutes after arriving, the operation shifted from a rescue to a recovery. His body was recovered the following morning, on July 29. Affectionately called "Ronnie," Costly called him a "loving father and a loyal friend" who was "brutally honest, endlessly caring, and unforgettable," in the vigil invitation. The vigil was scheduled for August 1. Costly wrote that Baquera was survived by his two sons and a daughter. "He will be deeply missed," Costly wrote. Construction workers react to death Just hours before the vigil, construction crews were still at work in the area. Freshly poured sidewalks near an elementary school were being smoothed, while a bulldozer sat on bare dirt just feet from newly planted grass, kept green by running sprinklers. Fred Gonzalez, a 22-year veteran of the construction industry, was working in a trench near the one that collapsed days earlier. Alongside him was his 18-year-old son, Adam Gonzalez. The two had been hired to inspect the pipe connected to a fire hydrant to ensure it hadn't been damaged in the accident 'It definitely feels eerie,' said Gonzalez, who was working for the Goodyear-based firm of Petra Consulting. Gonzalez said he didn't know the man who died, but felt a kinship with him. 'We all are involved in the underground industry,' he said. The trench they were working in was shored up with a metal box-like structure. Still, he said, the job comes with danger. 'It can happen,' he said. How did Baquera get trapped in Goodyear? The Goodyear Fire Department responded to a call at 1:10 p.m. on July 28 when Baquera got stuck in a trench. The fire department responded within six minutes of receiving the call, according to Ruben Real, a spokesperson for the Goodyear Fire Department. The Goodyear Police Department, Phoenix Fire Department's technical rescue team, APS and Southwest Gas workers were also on hand to assist with the rescue. Baquera was buried under a large amount of dirt, according to Real. As crews dug, the trench continued to collapse as the dirt was removed, which created a dangerous condition for Baquera and the rescue crews. That led the department to pause and take a 'more methodical recovery approach,' Real told The Republic. Operations resumed into the evening and worked through the night with heavy equipment from utility partners. Crews removed the worker's body from the trench around 2 a.m. July 29, Real said. Who's investigating the death? The incident remained under investigation alongside partner agencies, Real said. The compliance division of the Industrial Commission of Arizona started its investigation July 28, said Charles Carpenter, a spokesman for the state's workplace safety agency. The results of such an investigation typically take four to five months, Carpenter said. Recommendations of citations and proposed penalties are presented to the state board for approval. Republic reporter Rey Covarrubias Jr contributed to this article. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Friends honor construction worker killed in Goodyear accident Solve the daily Crossword
