Maurilio
Rojas, crushed to death by a steamroller
June 3, 1961 - February 14, 2016
Born in Zacatecas, Mexico
Resided in Richmond, CA
SAN FRANCISCO, CA —
Involuntary manslaughter charges have been filed against two East Bay men and the owner of a San Francisco construction company in the 2016 steamroller death of another employee at a building site, authorities said Wednesday.
According to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, charges were filed Tuesday against Michael Sommer, 41, of Pacifica, the owner of LC General Engineering and Construction Inc.; Ramiro Peña, 48, of Dublin, a foreman; and Manuel Silao, 59, of Richmond, a project manager. The company also was formally charged.
When reached Wednesday, Silao declined to comment on the incident and deferred comment to Sommer, who could not be reached. Peña also could not be reached.
Maurilio Rojas, 54, of Richmond, died Jan. 28, 2016, after he was crushed by a steamroller at a work site at 18th Avenue and Vicente Street.
The three men and the business also were charged with violating the state labor code for not properly supervising others, resulting in the death of an employee.
According to the district attorney’s office, the defendants “all contributed to permitting a worker who was not qualified to operate a heavy roller at the worksite. The employee had not previously operated a steamroller or received the proper training to do so, and was operating the machinery at the direction of his employer. The operator lost control of the roller and ran over the victim.”
San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón said in a release that “[w]hen businesses ignore regulations designed to create safe workplaces, they put their employees and the community at risk. The stakes are high, and the volume of construction underway in San Francisco requires these companies to take the precautions necessary to mitigate the risk of injury.”
According to officials, the men appeared in court Tuesday and were released on their own recognizance. Peña was scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday; Sommer on Thursday; and Silao and the company both on Sept. 24.
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Bay City News -
(BCN) --
A construction worker was seriously injured Thursday while working on a city road project in San Francisco's Parkside neighborhood.
Firefighters called to the area of 18th Avenue and Vicente Street at 12:10 p.m. found a 50-year-old male construction worker laying next to a construction vehicle in need of emergency medical aid, according to fire
department spokesman Jonathan Baxter.
Police spokesman Gordon Shyy said the construction worker was run over by a construction roller at the site.
The man was taken to San Francisco General Hospital with serious injuries. Baxter said he was able to speak to paramedics when he arrived at the hospital, but could not provide further updates on his condition.
The man was working on a city road project and employed by contractor LC General Engineering and Construction, Inc.
Department of Public Works spokeswoman Rachel Gordon said the project involves street base repair work in the area of Vicente Street and Ocean Avenue. She said she was not aware of any previous issues with the project or contractor.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with this worker and his loved ones," Gordon said.
Police and the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health will be investigating the incident. Cal OSHA spokeswoman Jules Bernstein confirmed her agency had been called to the scene. She said the contractor has had no reportable incidents or complaints in the agency's database in the past five years.
A call to LC General for comment was not returned.