A former Tacodeli employee in Texas says he lost his job for doing what many people say they would do without thinking twice: dialing 911 when a man walked into the taco shop with a snake bite and a rapidly swelling arm.
In a tearful Instagram video, the worker says the customer came in visibly injured and asked for help. With no medical training of his own, he says he called emergency services, only to later be told that the decision cost him his job. Tacodeli disputes that account, and the viral clip has kicked off a heated online debate over workplace rules, common sense and what employees are allowed to do in an emergency. The worker says he is now speaking with legal counsel and has heard from several potential employers since his story spread.
What The Former Employee Says Happened
The incident unfolded on Friday, July 3, when a customer walked into a Tacodeli location seeking help after being bitten by a snake and showed clear signs of swelling, according to the former employee’s account to reporters. In the Instagram video, the worker, identified as Eric Estrada, says he believed the situation was serious enough that trained first responders needed to be involved, so he called 911 rather than relying on any in-house response, as reported by HypeFresh.
Tacodeli Responds
Tacodeli has pushed back on Estrada’s version of events. In a statement to the Houston Chronicle, the company said, “Those claims do not accurately represent the circumstances involved.”
The taco chain said it does not publicly discuss confidential personnel matters but maintained that employment decisions are made only after a careful review that follows established policies. Tacodeli also emphasized that the safety of both guests and staff is a priority, according to the outlet.
Tacodeli’s Footprint And The Unknowns
Tacodeli, which launched in Austin in 1999, markets itself as an Austin-rooted taqueria. Local reporting places its footprint at roughly 13 restaurants across Austin, Dallas, Houston and Plano. The former employee has not publicly identified which store was involved, and Tacodeli has declined to share additional personnel details, leaving questions about the exact scene inside the restaurant and the customer’s current condition unresolved.
According to Tacodeli, the company now operates across multiple Texas markets.
Online Reaction And Workplace Questions
Estrada’s Instagram post quickly drew supportive comments from medical professionals and other viewers who argued that calling 911 was the obvious move in a potential envenomation case, where timing can be critical. The situation has reignited a familiar workplace tension: strict chain-of-command rules versus an employee’s instinct to act first and clear it with a manager later, especially when someone might be in medical danger, according to coverage by Dexerto.
What The Law Says
Texas employment law generally follows an “at will” model for private-sector workers, which means employers can usually fire employees for any lawful reason. That structure makes many terminations difficult to challenge unless a specific legal protection applies, according to guidance from the Texas Workforce Commission.
State law also includes a version of a Good Samaritan statute. Under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code (Sec. 74.151), people who “in good faith administer emergency care” are shielded from civil damages for what they do in that emergency, unless their conduct is willful or wanton. That protection focuses on liability, not job security.
Estrada told the Houston Chronicle that he is meeting with legal counsel and that several employers have reached out to him since his video circulated. Tacodeli has reiterated that it will not discuss confidential personnel matters. For now, both sides are keeping some key details under wraps, including which location was involved and how the customer is doing today, while the online back-and-forth over the 911 call shows little sign of letting up.
