Matthew Thompson Killed in Pecos, TX, Oil Rig Accident
Pecos, TX -- October 22, 2016, Matthew Thompson was killed due to an accident where he was struck by a pipe at a Latshaw Drilling oil rig.
The fatal incident occurred at an oil rig somewhere near Pecos. Latshaw Drilling has several in the area listed on their official website.
According to an OSHA report, Thompson was working on a rig at the time, though his exact operations were not specified. As he worked, a pipe somehow struck him in the head and inflicted serious injuries.
EMS rushed to the scene and administered CPR, transporting him to a hospital. The wounds ultimately proved fatal, and he died as a result.
The exact details surrounding the accident have not been made clear at this time. No additional information is available.
Map of the Area
Commentary
The reports surrounding this accident are incredibly vague, and just mirrors the kind of reports I see all too often about workplace deaths. The only outlet that reports on the incident is OSHA, and their account boils down to a few words. This particular accident says, "Worker struck and killed by pipe." I only found a few more details on a GoFundMe page for his surviving family.
It's difficult to see someone fall victim to these workplace accidents and no news outlets seem to care. Friends and relatives are often left in the dark about these accidents, and OSHA doesn't go out of their way to change that. They go in, look for fines to give to the company, and get out. Meanwhile, the family is sitting around wondering why their loved one is dead.
There needs to be more thorough investigations into these kinds of accidents. How did the accident happen? Who caused it? Was there a lack of safety equipment or training? Was the work environment unsafe? These are necessary questions that must be answered, and a six word summary just doesn't cut it.
--Grossman Law Offices
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