OSHA investigating construction site death at SpaceX's Starbase: Reports
Visitors arrive at Starbase near Boca Chica, Texas, on October 12, 2024, ahead of the Starship Flight 5 test. The test will involve the return of Starship's Super Heavy Booster to the launch site. (Photo by Sergio FLORES / AFP) (Photo by SERGIO FLORE
BROWNSVILLE, Texas - A death at a construction site Friday in SpaceX's Starbase is being investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, reports say.
The death has been confirmed as a 25-year-old Texas man who is believed to have been a contracted worker, the Texas Tribune says.
Starbase death
What we know:
Jose Luis Bautista, of Donna, died Friday morning after falling eight feet from scaffolding, the Tribune said they learned from the Cameron County Justice of the Peace Mary Esther Sorola. She reportedly said Bautista was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:15 a.m. A preliminary autopsy report showed he died from blunt force trauma caused by the fall, according to Sorola.
The City of Starbase also confirmed the death. Cayetana Polanco, Starbase city administrator, extended condolences to the man's family in an email statement to FOX Local. She went on to say that SpaceX incidents do not fall within the city's capacity. SpaceX has not yet issued a statement on the matter.
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OSHA has an active investigation underway. The inspection page says the incident happened at a SpaceX site with an official address listed in Brownsville, with a incident emphasis of "fall."
What we don't know:
FOX Local has reached out to SpaceX about the incident. They had responded at the time of publishing.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the Texas Tribune.