Bexar County, TX — April 15, 2023, Carlos Hernandez was killed and another worker was injured after an accident where a pipe fell off a truck along West Military Drive.
Authorities said that the incident happened at around noon in the area of West Military Drive and Westcreek Oaks Drive, west of Loop 1604.
It appears that Carlos Hernandez, said to be 52, was in a construction site at the time. For reasons currently unclear, a pipe fell from a truck, landing on Hernandez and another worker. As a result, Hernandez sustained fatal injuries. The other worker was taken to a hospital.
No further information about the incident can be confirmed at this time.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
News outlets say that Hernandez and the other worker were contractors working on behalf of CPS Energy to install gas lines. The condition of the work site, whether or not there have been past issues with safety, and details about an inspection of the truck and its cargo all remain unclear at this time.
Those are just a few of the key details that need attention after any deadly work accident. Folks tend to just wait for OSHA to handle things, but there are challenges inherent in doing so.
For one, OSHA doesn’t necessarily prioritize the needs of victims and families. They’re looking for specific rule violations for potential fines and penalties. That can sometimes allow important information to slip through the cracks.
Furthermore, their investigations can take a very long time—sometimes over a year. Families shouldn’t be left in the dark for so long when they need answers about the death of a loved. That’s especially true if that loved one was supporting the family and can no longer do so.
It remains to be seen, then, if there will be proper steps to see this man’s loved ones get the answers they need sooner rather than later. Perhaps OSHA will be able to fulfill these needs without outside help, but that’s not a risk I’d be comfortable taking if it were my loved one involved in a deadly work accident.
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