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.
In a heartbreaking turn of events, the mission transitioned from a rescue attempt to a recovery operation within just half an hour, with Baquera’s body being extricated after nearly 13 exhausting hours.
‘My daughter is really torn up,’ Melissa Prado, the mother of two of Baquera’s children, told ABC 15 News. ‘She spends almost every day with him.’
‘She’s a little distraught, and my son’s angry,’ she added. ‘They’re not really coping too well. His hobby was his children.’
Emergency crews arrived at the construction site at around 1pm within six minutes of receiving a call about a man trapped in a ditch.
Upon the arrival of the Goodyear Fire Department, they witnessed coworkers desperately trying to extricate Baquera, who was trapped beneath an enormous, crushing mound of soil.
Ronald Andrew Baquera Jr., affectionately known as ‘Ronnie,’ 44, lost his life while on the job at a construction site after being trapped under six feet of collapsing earth for more than 10 terrifying hours.
On July 28, Baquera was working at a location within a developing neighborhood close to 183rd Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road in Goodyear when a trench unexpectedly gave way, burying him under six to seven feet of soil.
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.
They were brought in to inspect the fire hydrant’s connected piping system, as part of efforts to confirm it hadn’t sustained damage in the incident.
‘It definitely feels eerie,’ Gonzalez told AZ Central.
“All of us are engaged in the underground industry,” remarked one insider. “The trench was supported by a metal box-like structure, but these things can and do happen unexpectedly.”
Baquera leaves behind two sons and a daughter. Nate Costly, a childhood friend organized a vigil on Friday.
In a tragic unfolding, what began as a rescue endeavor transitioned to a recovery mission within just a brief 30 minutes, and after almost 13 arduous hours, Baquera’s body was finally recovered.
Rescue crews quickly recognized that the massive load of dirt above Baquera was creating dangerously unstable conditions within the trench, and as they attempted to remove the weight, it was clear that the trench was only continuing to collapse (pictured)
Finally, at approximately 2am on July 29 – more than 12 hours after Baquera (pictured) became trapped – crews successfully recovered his body from the trench
‘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.
Over the course of the day and into the night, recovery operations resumed, relying heavily on specialized equipment provided by utility partners (pictured) to recover Baquera’s body
Nate Costly (right), a childhood friend of Baquera (left), organized a vigil on Friday to honor his memory and mourn his sudden passing. Baquera leaves behind two sons and a daughter
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 (pictured)
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.
