A tragic incident at the General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) led to the death of an employee, J.C. Adame, on Monday after an accident involving a heavy piece of machinery.
According to FOX 5 San Diego, Adame sustained injuries that proved fatal, leading to distress among his family members, left to grapple with sparse details. "They told us that all of his coworkers tried to lift it up themselves off of him, so I know he will be missed and loved," said Isabelle Adame, J.C. Adame's daughter, in an interview with the news station.
Adding to the family's frustration, NASSCO has not provided them with a complete account of the circumstances surrounding Adame's death. Isabelle Adame told FOX 5 San Diego that the company failed to notify them directly, stating, "We didn’t find out from NASSCO, we found out from his friends". The family waited for information at the shipyard for hours without significant updates on the day of the accident.
NASSCO issued a brief statement, as per FOX 5 San Diego, "With great sadness, we can confirm a fellow NASSCO employee passed away in the shipyard yesterday. Out of respect for the family, and as we investigate the incident we cannot share any further details at this time. There are no words that can suffice at this moment. Our deepest sympathies go out to the family – and the entire NASSCO team is keeping them in our thoughts during this tragedy." The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Harbor Police are investigating the incident, with NASSCO expecting to provide a report within six months.
Further details obtained by NBC 7 San Diego revealed that the accident occurred around 12:15 p.m. at the NASSCO facility on Harbor Drive. The San Diego Fire-Rescue team responded to what was initially reported as a fall, but the victim, now confirmed to be Adame, died at the scene. He was described as "a pipefitter in the Repair Department," according to NASSCO president Dave Carver, "a valuable member of our team for many decades – he will truly be missed."
