Two workers found dead in Stockton over the weekend after a trench collapse at a construction site were identified Monday by the San Joaquin County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Raul Zepeda, 49 of Lodi, and Raul Cristostomo De La Cruz, 34 of Stockton, were the two men whose bodies were recovered on Aug. 8.
Stockton firefighters were called at about 5:15 a.m. to 7924 N. El Dorado Street on reports of a construction trench collapse with two people trapped. The trench was approximately 10 feet deep prior to the collapse, fire officials said.
Deputy Chief Erik Patten said the reporting party said two people, who he believed were in the trench, were last seen inside on Friday night, Aug. 7. The witness said he could not get ahold of the two workers.
When crews arrived at the scene, they secured and stabilized the area and began a technical rescue operation.
For several hours rescue crews worked, with help from Stockton Public Works personnel and heavy equipment operators, to safely access and remove both men from the collapsed trench.
Both men were found dead.
Katherine Wzorek, Public Information Officer for Cal/OSHA, said in an email Monday that the agency has opened an inspection into the incident. She said while the inspection is ongoing, no additional details are available at this time. Cal/OSHA has up to six months to issue citations if any violations of workplace safety and health regulations are identified.
What is being renovated at the construction site?
Just before 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, a few drivers passed by the scene to look at the fenced construction site. Some residents could be heard saying the incident was tragic and questioned how it occurred.
A candle and two bouquets of flowers have been left at the scene.
In an interview, Patten said he believed construction crews were renovating a supermarket located in the area.
The construction site is located at the former Lion Market.
In the last two months, job fairs were held in front of the same building for employment at La Tapatia Market which is slated to take over the former market, according to a job flyer for La Tapatia.
Record reporter Victoria Franco covers public safety in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at vfranco@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.
This article originally appeared on The Record: Two workers killed in trench at Stockton construction site identified
Reporting by Victoria Franco, The Stockton Record / The Record
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By Victoria Franco, The Stockton Record | USA TODAY Network
