A routine maintenance job at a Northeast Side compost yard turned deadly Friday morning, when a 52-year-old worker was fatally crushed under heavy machinery at Second Nature Compost. Co-workers pulled him from beneath the tire of a front-end loader and tried to revive him with CPR before first responders arrived, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The sudden loss has rattled employees and nearby residents and triggered an active industrial-accident investigation.
What investigators say
According to the San Antonio Fire Department, a man working on a front-end loader around 10:50 a.m. was found pinned under a tire after co-workers heard a loud pop. Witnesses performed CPR until emergency crews arrived, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police described it as an apparent industrial accident and are investigating, News 4 San Antonio reports.
Where it happened
The fatal accident unfolded at Second Nature Compost’s soil yard at 8449 Nelson Road on San Antonio’s Northeast Side. The company sells compost, topsoil, and mulch to both homeowners and contractors. Its FAQ lists the Nelson Road address and weekday operating hours, and business and industry directories place the facility in ZIP code 78252. Second Nature Compost also appears in trade listings, including the US Composting Council and The Blue Book.
How authorities will proceed
San Antonio police are investigating the incident. Federal rules require employers to notify OSHA of any work-related death within eight hours. The agency may open its own inspection or request records from the company as part of the review.
Community note
Witnesses told News 4 San Antonio they heard a loud pop just before the man was discovered, and described a chaotic scene as co-workers scrambled to help. Police are asking anyone who has information or any video of the moments leading up to the accident to contact authorities as the investigation continues.
