Construction worker electrocuted, another seriously injured in industrial accident

TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD/Gray News) - One man in Arizona has died in an industrial accident and another man was injured.

The Pima County Sheriff’s Office said 20-year-old Dominic Herbert was electrocuted Thursday.

A source then said Herbert’s father was arrested later that day for allegedly making threats against his son’s co-workers.

The father, who has not been officially identified, is reportedly facing three counts of threats and intimidation and three counts of computer tampering. The man allegedly posted the threats on social media.

Rick Talvy, the father of the man and the grandfather of the 20-year-old victim, spoke to KOLD about the incident.

“My son is grieving, and yes, made the mistake of making threats to the families of the people my grandson worked for. It definitely wasn’t appropriate,” Talvy said. “I think at this point he knows that he was actually wrong and he was going through a rough time. We just have to accept that the good Lord wanted Dominic up there as a young person.”

Talvy said Herbert loved baseball, fishing and going to the beach. He said his grandson recently got engaged to his girlfriend of five years.

“My son is a very good man, and I just think that he grieved in a different way, which we all know is not appropriate,” Talvy said. “We have to say it is OK to grieve, and we definitely tried to get him the help he needed last night. It’s just he roamed off.”

Talvy said he is happy his son was found safe.

“I am pretty sure they are giving him the counseling he needs to get through this difficult situation, and I’m just so devastated,” he said.

The sheriff’s department confirmed the accident took place Thursday around 8 a.m. as crews worked near Thornydale and Lambert.

One of Herbert’s coworkers had knocked down a power pole. The pole and the wires then fell into a ditch where Herbert and another coworker were working.

Herbert and the injured coworker were employed by JW Civil, a Tucson-based construction company.

The company said it did not have an official statement on the incident yet, but were heartbroken.

The family of the injured coworker said they are praying for his recovery.

KOLD reports JW Civil have been in business since 2022 but have had no incidents in the OSHA database.

There were also no records of complaints against JW Civil in the Arizona Registrar of Contractors or the BBB system.

According to the company’s website, it provides civil construction services that include earthwork, site work, mass excavations and underground utilities.

Officials confirmed OSHA was on scene along with the Northwest Fire District, Golder Ranch Fire District and TEP.

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