A construction worker who died after being electrocuted touched an exposed wire while working on ceiling lights in a Walmart warehouse bathroom, Grove City police said.
Victor Ortez Pegueros, 35, died July 24 after the incident that happened while he was working on ceiling lights with other members of his crew, according to a Grove City police report.
The report says that at about 9:30 a.m., he accidentally touched an exposed wire. Investigators are unsure whether Pegueros touched a wire nut or if it came off the wire when Pegueros touched it, according to the report.
One of the workers, Peguero’s brother-in-law, heard Pegueros screaming and noticed he was shaking. He pulled Pegueros away from the wire by his pants, the report says.
Pegueros collapsed. He was not breathing and didn’t have a pulse. The other workers began performing CPR on Pegueros and called 911, police said.
Jackson Township paramedics arrived and rushed Pegueros to Mount Carmel Grove City Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
In a statement issued late on July 25, Walmart said their thoughts are with Pegueros’ family and that they would be working with law enforcement during their investigation. They referred all further questions to police.
The Columbus office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) could not be reached for comment.
The incident remains under investigation.
Public Safety and Breaking News Reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at bagallion@dispatch.com.
Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@dispatch.com, at ShahidMeighan on X, and at shahidthereporter.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Construction worker at Walmart warehouse electrocuted, died after touching wire, report says
Reporting by Bailey Gallion and Shahid Meighan, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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