When firefighters were called to a work site in Tarrant County this summer, they were informed they were there for a rescue. Two workers inside a water tank were stuck about 20 feet below the surface. The firefighters’ hours-long attempt to rescue the men instead ended as a recovery, records reveal.
On June 13, 37-year-old Jose Rogelio Segovia and 59-year-old Juan Zuniga Hernandez died while working inside a water tank near the 12000 block of Aledo Road, according to Tarrant County deputies and Parker County fire incident reports.
Months after the work accident, after their bodies were pulled from the water tank five hours after being found, it’s now known that the men died from suffocation and drowning.
On the day of the accident, a fellow worker reported that the two entered the tank after a low-water-level sensor activated, deputies said.
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The men were last seen around 2 p.m. Deputies said their coworker became concerned and attempted but failed to get in contact with Zuniga and Segovia. The coworker found the men inside the tank around 4:50 p.m. and called for help, deputies said.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, as well as the Tarrant County investigation, identified Zuniga and Segovia’s employer as McKee Utility Contractors. The company’s site address is on the same road where the water tank is located, according to OSHA.
When deputies arrived, they saw both men face down in the tank, with the backs of their bright neon yellow shirts visible, according to the deputies investigation report.
Segovia lay on a concrete platform, deputies said, and Zuniga was floating on top of the water that surrounded the platform. The men were about 20 feet underground, according to deputies.
Parker County firefighters arrived. They stated in their incident report that the initial call was for a trench rescue. The men were in a rural area about five miles from the road and in a small confined space, which made the rescue more difficult, firefighters said.
Firefighters had to park about a mile from the tank. Equipment was transported from the fire trucks to the location via smaller vehicles, firefighters said.
By the time firefighters got to Zuniga and Segovia, they said the men weren’t moving or responding to verbal commands.
After checking oxygen and carbon monoxide levels in the tank and getting a better view of the men, firefighters decided to perform a hasty entry and get closer by using a hook.
Using ladders, the firefighters descended into the depths of the tank and attempted to get the men to move.
The incident was changed from a rescue operation to a recovery, firefighters said.
Both men were pulled from the tank around 10:30 p.m., according to Tarrant County deputies.
Segovia died from asphyxiation, according to the Tarrant County medical examiner’s office. Zuniga, who was found face down in water, died from asphyxiation and drowning. Both their deaths were deemed an accident by the medical examiner.
McKee Utility Contractors declined to provide a statement to The News about the men’s death and their employment.
A spokesperson with the U.S. Department of Labor confirmed in June that OSHA is investigating the accident.
In November, following the government shutdown, the Department of Labor confirmed OSHA is still investigating the incident and has until Dec. 13 to complete its investigation.
Funeral services were held for both men soon after their deaths, according to their obituaries.
Zuniga was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, according to his obituary. He left behind a wife and three children. He enjoyed cooking outside, listening to music, and, above all enjoying his grandchildren, his family said in the obituary.
Segovia was from El Salvador and lived in Irving, according to his obituary. He left behind a wife and two children. His family, in his obituary, said he was a passionate football fan, who found joy in watching games and sharing moments with his loved ones.”
“He was a beloved husband, father, and friend, known for his unwavering dedication to his family and his hard work,” his family said in the obituary.