PG&E Worker Killed in Electrocution Accident in Benicia

March 18, 2010
A Pacific Gas & Electric employee of almost five years was killed Wednesday in an electrical vault accident in Benicia, authorities reported. The Solano County electrical accident occurred shortly before 10 a.m. in an underground vault at Panorama Court and Panorama Drive in Benicia. According to KTVU News, fire officials in the area said they immediately dispatched rescue vehicles after receiving reports of a male employee being electrocuted in the vault, which contains 12,000-volt power lines.
The victim was identified as Maximiliano Martinez, 26, a general construction lineman who worked out of the Calistoga yard. Martinez was upgrading a transformer in the vault when the accident occurred. Three other men in his crew were with him, but Martinez was the only one inside the vault when he was electrocuted. He died at the scene.
Our deepest sympathy goes out to the family of Max Martinez and everyone who knew and loved him. Please keep his family and close friends in your thoughts and prayers.
What Caused This Accident?
Based on the news accounts of the incident, it is not clear why the accident occurred. Both PG&E and CalOSHA stayed on the scene to investigate the fatal workplace accident. Authorities will likely surely talk to the other employees at the scene and see of there was equipment malfunction and whether Martinez was trained in the operation of the equipment he was using. In such a fatal workplace accident, it is important to determine if a death is caused by someone else's negligent actions, or a defective piece of equipment.
Compensation and Third Party Claims
Although the victim's family will likely receive worker's compensation benefits from PG&E, these benefits may not sufficiently compensate the family for their loss. The family may consider speaking to a wrongful death lawyer about whether they may be entitled to compensation in a third party claim (a claim against a party other than the victim's employer). An experienced California workplace injury attorney could help the victim's family understand their legal rights, options and obligations to ensure they recover fair compensation for their devastating loss.
Sources: KTVU News, San Francisco Chronicle, CBS 5