A soccer player from California has been identified as the worker who tragically lost his life when a trench collapsed at a worksite in the Central Valley.
Pablo Gomez, 34, an excavation worker, became trapped underground for several hours at the site in Hickman on Friday, leading to a large-scale rescue operation.
Gomez was a goalkeeper for the Modesto City Football Club during the 2019 and 2020 seasons, and the club expressed its sadness over the loss online.
In a statement, the club noted, “This is a very sad day for the [Modesto City Football Club] family and the Modesto, California area. Our condolences go out to the family.”
A GoFundMe campaign set up for Gomez portrayed him as a “joyful, loved young man who loved to dance and have a good time,” emphasizing that he always wore a smile and brightened everyone’s day.
The campaign further described him as “a great friend, son, brother, uncle, cousin, and father,” mentioning that his passing has left his family and friends grappling with “a profound sadness that is hard to fathom.”
Meanwhile, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating the circumstances surrounding the fatal collapse.
This incident follows another tragedy in California earlier this year, where two workers died due to a trench collapse at a Stockton construction site.
