The construction worker who died at Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Berkeley earlier this week has been identified by authorities as 62-year-old Oscar Marquez of Livermore.
Marquez, an employee of Robert A. Bothman Construction, had been laying asphalt for a school track project on Tuesday at 12:35 p.m. when a big rig parked on a slope rolled over him and killed him, authorities said.
The Alameda County coroner’s office said the cause of death was listed as extensive blunt force trauma.
Cal/OSHA spokesman Peter Melton said earlier this week that the agency will conduct the investigation into Marquez’s death, which could take up to six months to complete. The agency enforces worker safety and health standards.
Melton said Friday that the investigation is still ongoing, and that Cal/OSHA typically does not release information until the investigation is complete.
Brian Bothman, vice president of operations for Robert A. Bothman Construction, described Marquez on Tuesday as “a great guy” who had been with the company for 25 years.
He said the company was deeply saddened by the death, and had reached out to Marquez’s family to offer support.
Bothman also said the company prides itself on safety and has never had a serious safety violation over its 35-year history.
According to OSHA’s database, the company has had only one listed violation since 2003 (the earliest date available online); it was related to a stairway in a 2009 construction project in Hawaii, and resulted in a $300 fine.
Tuesday’s accident took place during King Middle School’s parent and student orientation fair, and some of the families on scene at the time of Marquez’s death were aware of the accident, said Berkeley Unified School District spokesman Mark Coplan.
City of Berkeley mental health workers responded to the school on Tuesday to offer support to construction crew members, he said.
A viewing will be held Wednesday, Sept. 4, from 4-9 p.m. at Callaghan Mortuary, 3883 East Ave., in Livermore. The memorial service will be held Saturday, Sept. 7, at 2 p.m. at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness, 878 Herman Ave., Livermore. Robert A. Bothman Construction has established a fund for the Marquez family. Those who wish to contribute may send a check payable to Esther Marquez in care of Robert A. Bothman, Inc., 650 Quinn Ave., San Jose, CA, 95112 (Attn: Maribelle Rosas).
Related:
Livermore man killed on construction site at King School (08.27.13)
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