At a Glance
- Jose Fernando Partida, 57, was trapped inside a chemical mixer at Gowan Milling LLC in Yuma, Arizona, on January 4.
- The machine activated while he was cleaning it; a co-worker escaped, but Partida remained inside for five hours.
- He sustained multiple fractures and died in the hospital on January 10.
- Why it matters: The incident is under investigation by the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office and the Industrial Commission of Arizona, spotlighting industrial safety protocols.
A routine cleaning shift turned fatal when Jose Fernando Partida became trapped inside a chemical mixer at Gowan Milling LLC in Yuma, Arizona. The 57-year-old was working inside the machine when it unexpectedly powered on, according to News Of Los Angeles‘s report.
The Incident
Partida entered the mixer to perform standard cleaning procedures. A second employee joined him but managed to escape when the equipment activated. Partida was not as fortunate and remained stuck inside.
Emergency crews responded swiftly. Rural Metro Fire shut off power to the mixer, and a hazmat team joined first responders for a five-hour rescue operation. Once freed, Partida was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries: broken ribs, a broken leg, a broken arm, and extensive bruising.
He died six days later on January 10.
Family Reaction
Omar, Partida’s son, recalled the moment he learned of the accident.
“When they called me that he had an accident, I thought it was like a small accident,” Omar told Arizona Family.
He said the hardest part was knowing his father endured hours of pain.
“The sad thing is the time that he was there and that he was begging for help,” Omar said. “I was imagining all the pain that he was passed through and all that stuff. I imagine it’s just to be there for five hours and hold all the pain. I don’t think my dad deserved all that.”
Omar remembered his father as a constant source of support.
“Anything that we had the problems, he was there,” he said. “And he always have an answer for me. Now that he’s not here, it’s like, I don’t know. It’s like, ’cause it was just me, my sister and him.”
Company Response
Gowan Milling LLC released a statement confirming the company activated its emergency response protocol immediately after the injury was reported.
“We immediately enacted our emergency response protocol upon learning of this employee’s injury, including calling emergency medical professionals and other first responders,” the statement said.
It added, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our employee, and our thoughts and most sincere sympathies are extended to his family at this time. The safety of our employees is our first priority, and we are conducting an investigation into this incident. We also are continuing to cooperate with local law enforcement and regulatory agencies.”
Ongoing Investigations
- Yuma County Sheriff’s Office has opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.
- Industrial Commission of Arizona expects its probe to last four to five months.
Marcus L. Bennett reported that News Of Los Angeles reached out to the Industrial Commission of Arizona, Gowan Milling LLC, and Rural Metro Fire for additional comment.
Community Support
A GoFundMe page was created to help the family cover unexpected medical and funeral expenses. The page describes Partida as a joyful, loving man who cherished life, music, dancing, soccer, and-above all-his family.
“He leaves behind his devoted wife Lupe and two children, Omar and Allison, whom he loved tremendously,” the page states.
Key Takeaways
- The fatal accident occurred during routine cleaning of a chemical mixer.
- Emergency crews needed five hours to extract Partida safely.
- Multiple agencies are investigating potential safety lapses.
- The family is seeking financial help through a public fundraiser.
