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Bland Construction Co.

Description

Bland Construction Company was in the process of constructing a wasterwater line when a portion of a trench wall collapsed, killing Victor Nazario, an employee of the company. Gregorio Reza was operating a backhoe at the trench. Between 8:30 am and 9:00 am, Reza stopped his excavating work in order to straighten out a light that was used to check the trench' s grade. At that time, Nazario entered the trench to take grade pole measurements. While in the trench, the wall collapsed and Nazario was killed. One year prior to this accident, Bland received two citations alleging various trenching violations, including two instances of failure to perform sloping or shoring, apparently in soil. Reza was given an OSHA seminar and pamphlet on trenching safety, however it was in English, which he could not understand.

Prosecutors

County Attorney Kenneth Oden; Assistant Alia Moses

Incident Type

Trench Collapse

County

Travis

State

Texas

Date

April 21, 1987

Available case materials include

  • Case/Court Decisions
  • Media Clips & Gov't. Press
  • Other Materials

OSHA Inspection

Contact for Additional Information

Unavailable

Victims

First Last Age Title Employer Injury Type
Victor Nazario Unavailable Unavailable Bland Construction Fatality

Defendants

Name Type Title Plea Information Conviction Sentence
Joe Bland Individual Owner Unavailable Unavailable
Penal Crimes Charged

Criminally Negligent Homicide

Other Crimes Charged

Unavailable

Gregorio Reza Individual Supervisor Unavailable Unavailable
Penal Crimes Charged

Criminally Negligent Homicide

Other Crimes Charged

Unavailable

Isidoro Flores Individual Supervisor Unavailable Unavailable
Penal Crimes Charged

Criminally Negligent Homicide

Other Crimes Charged

Unavailable

Bland Construction Co. Entity Entity Unavailable Unavailable
Penal Crimes Charged

Criminally Negligent Homicide

Other Crimes Charged

Unavailable