Worker Dies In San Francisco Asphalt Accident

A South San Francisco asphalt plant employee was killed early in June when the machine on which he was conducting maintenance work accidentally began operating. The worker, identified as Hayward resident Tony Ponce, was 37.

Ponce had been performing maintenance work inside an auger transporter, used to move asphalt around the plant, and was caught in the machine when it suddenly began operating, reports say. Emergency services were called at 7:32 p.m. to the Graniterock facility, which produces asphalt and slurry seals, at 1321 Lowrie Ave., arriving four minutes later. But Ponce suffered severe injuries and was dead when firefighters arrived.

According to reports, the machine was supposed to be in "lock-out" mode, which means no power would be running to it. Apparently, however, another employee accidentally turned on the auger Ponce was in, instead of turning it to "lock-out" mode.

Work-related injury or wrongful death cases take lives of not only the victims, but their families. In such tragedy, The Doan Law Firm, P.C., led by Houston personal injury attorney Jimmy Doan, can use their extensive experience in work-related fatalities to help in any litigation attempts for compensation. If you or a loved one has been involved in an incident of this nature, contact The Doan Law Firm, P.C. at 1 Riverway, Suite 1700, Houston, Texas 77056, Local (713) 869-4747 or Nationwide (800) 910-FIRM.