Tragic Incident at Goodyear Construction Site

An Arizona construction worker lost his life due to a collapse on Monday. The worker, identified as Ronald Andrew Baquera Jr., was performing tasks approximately six feet underground when the incident occurred.

According to police, firefighters quickly arrived on the scene after Baquera’s coworkers attempted to rescue him from the hole. Jose Gonzalez, the chief of the Goodyear Police Station, mentioned that despite their initial efforts, more dirt continued to fall as they tried to dig him out. “After about 30 minutes, it became clear that we had shifted from a rescue operation to a recovery one,” he stated.

Recovery efforts were complicated by the presence of critical infrastructure, such as gas, water, and power lines, which required personnel to proceed with caution for the safety of the community.

The family reported that officials successfully recovered Baquera’s body around 2 a.m. on Tuesday. Baquera was remembered for his passion for cars and karate, which he enjoyed practicing with his daughter. Melissa Prado, his mother, expressed her grief, saying, “My daughter is really torn apart. She spends her days with him almost every day. She’s a little distraught, and her son is angry.”

“His hobby was his children,” Prado added, reflecting on what seemed to be a strong family bond.

Rubicon Companies, which operates in the area, released a statement acknowledging Baquera’s passing. They clarified that he was not an employee of their company or its subcontractors but still regarded him as “a trade brother.” The company emphasized their commitment to improving industry standards for safety to prevent such tragedies in the future.

The Arizona Department of Occupational Safety and Health was contacted for comment regarding the incident, but no response was received before publication.