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Donte Donnell Tyce Allen, 21(Photo: Courtesy Dove Funeral Home) |
Contractor killed in fall from Dyess Air Force Base hangar identified
Laura Gutschke, Abilene Reporter-News
ABILENE, Texas
A roofing contractor who was killed in a fall from a Dyess Air Force Base hangar has been identified.
Donte Donnell Tyce Allen, 21, died at the base at about 11:20 a.m. Monday, according to a news release from Dyess.
Allen was a new employee for South Dakota-based Rushmore Roofing, said David Darnell, company owner.
“He hadn’t been there very long. I understand he was a good worker,” Darnell said. “He was happy. He liked working there. It was refreshing because young kids these days, they don’t want to work. One of a kind.”
Allen was a laborer moving materials on the roof of the large hangar. He fell through a skylight, Darnell said.
“He was out in the middle, far away from the edge. It’s really just like a freak accident. I can’t believe it. I’ve been doing this over 30 years, and I’ve never had anything like this happen,” Darnell said.
Work on the roofing project has been suspended as the incident is investigated by Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other agencies and as employees deal with it, Darnell said.
“We’re going to have to, for one thing, stop and evaluate the situation and make sure it doesn’t happen again. Whether we’re required to or whether we’re not, we’re going to take the steps that no one can do that again. It’s too horrible,” Darnell said. “Your family member isn’t coming home. I can’t imagine that. I’ve had my son working on the roof with me, and I can’t imagine that.”
Darnell has owned the company for 10 years.
“We work at air force bases. I’ve probably done 15, 20 different buildings out there at Dyess,” Darnell said. “We never had any safety write-ups or anything.”
Darnell said that the company is paying for Allen’s memorial service, working through Dove Funeral Home. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Friday at Galilee Baptist Church, 1011 Briarwood St.
According to Allen's obituary, he lived in Abilene and formerly Vernon. He is survived by his parents, LaKeshia Shelton of Vernon and the Rev. Don Allen of Abilene, a 1-year-old son, three siblings and several other relatives.
An online Donte Allen Memorial Fund was established at GoFundMe Wednesday morning by Darnell with a $100,000 goal to help the family with the costs of the funeral, raising a 1-year-old and other related financial burdens.
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By Yantis Green | Jul. 18, 2018 5:25 pm
Updated 7/18/2018 5:25 p.m. According to a Press Release from Dyess AFB, – Donte Donnell Tyce Allen, 21, was found dead on Dyess Air Force Base at approximately 11:20 a.m. yesterday. He was a contracted civilian employee working for Rushmore Roofing. The incident is under investigation; no further information is available at this time.
Dyess Air Force Base, TX -- A contract worker who died while working at Dyess Air Force Base has been identified.
According to KTXS, 19-year-old Donte Allen of Abilene was working on the roof of an aircraft hangar on the Abilene base when he lost his footing and fell though a skylight.
Allen was an employee of Rushmore roofing and had only been on the job for a week.
KTXS reports that Allen wasn't wearing a safety harness because he was working in the center of the roof and it wasn't required.
Rushmore roofing is a federal contractor based in South Dakota.
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Contractor killed while working at Dyess Air Force Base identified
by Nicholas Teresky
Tuesday, July 17th 2018
Donte AllenABILENE, Texas — The contractor who was killed while doing work at Dyess Air Force Base has been identified.
Donte Allen, 21, of Abilene, was replacing the roof on a hangar on Monday when he lost his footing, tripped and fell through a skylight, according to David Darnell, the president of Rushmore Roofing.
Allen was not wearing a safety harness, but Darnell said that he was not required to because the work was being done in the middle of the roof.
Allen had only worked for the South Dakota-based company for a week.
Allen graduated from Vernon High School in Vernon and his father told KTXS News that he was "a loving person" and "brought joy to everyone."
Allen also had a 1-year-old son.
Rushmore Roofing is paying for his funeral services.
Allen's memorial service will be held at the Gailee Baptist Church on 1011 Briarwood Street in Abilene at 1 p.m. on Friday.
