A procession of vehicles from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) traversed from Redding to Siskiyou County in honor of their fallen coworkers. Funds have been set up for the two men who died as the result of workplace injuries to help the men’s families. At the time of their death, they were working on Highway 96 to the south and west of Happy Camp.
There were upwards of 80 of Caltrans’ vehicles involved in the procession. California Highway Patrol units escorted the procession while several officers from law enforcement agencies along the procession route were positioned throughout the route to control traffic. The procession ended an area cemetery where one of the men was buried.
The two men that died were among eight Caltrans workers doing some rock scaling in the area when a rock slide occurred. In addition to the two men whose lives were lost in the slide, one other worker suffered injuries. The man was recently released from the hospital and continues to recover.
A geologist has confirmed that the scaling work being conducted that day was not the cause of these workplace injuries. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) is investigating the accident along with the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office. The families of the two men that died and the injured man may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits in connection with the incident. In order to ensure that the families and the injured man receive all of the benefits to which they are entitled, it may be of some benefit to each of them to consult with someone who is well versed in the workers’ compensation laws of our state.
Source: Siskiyou Daily News, “Fallen Caltrans employees honored with procession,” Ami Ridling, May 5, 2013