A tragic workplace accident has claimed the life of a grandmother at a Walmart distribution center in Fort Worth, Texas, officials report. Elena Rios, 68, was operating a forklift early Friday morning when she became pinned between the machine and a pallet rack, at the facility located at 15101 North Beach Street. Despite emergency response to the scene, she was pronounced dead at the distribution center.
According to FOX 4 News, the Fort Worth Police were called shortly after 6 a.m. Rios, who had a decade of experience working for Walmart, was certified in handling forklifts and other heavy machinery, however, the details surrounding the circumstances of the accident remain unclear.
Rios leaves behind a family for whom she was a matriarch, including four children and 13 grandchildren. A legal team from Varghese Summersett has been hired by the family to look into the fatal incident. In a statement obtained by WFAA, the firm said, "The family first learned about the accident on the news and was given conflicting information about what occurred." Rios was reportedly planning to attend her granddaughter's softball game later that day after her shift.
Walmart has expressed its condolences over the incident, stating, "The Walmart family is heartbroken over the passing of one of our associates." The company also confirmed that the facility was closed for the day following the accident, and counseling, along with other resources, was offered to associates dealing with the loss, as per WFAA.
The investigation into the accident is ongoing, with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) looking into the safety protocols and circumstances that led to the tragedy. The loss of Rios has undoubtedly left a void in her family and raises questions about workplace safety at such distribution centers.
