Man Named Who Died in Hillside Collapse

A carpenter was killed when a retaining wall collapsed on him at a construction site in Milpitas over the weekend, a spokeswoman for the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health said today.

The man was identified this morning by the Santa Clara County medical examiner's office as Raul Zapata, 39, of Hayward.          

Cal/OSHA was notified of the accident at 12:47 p.m. on Saturday, agency spokeswoman Erika Monterroza said. It occurred at a construction site at a home in the 800 block of Calaveras Ridge Drive.

She said Zapata was doing work next to an unsupported 13-foot retaining wall, which she described as a "wall of dirt," when a portion of it sheared off and collapsed onto him, burying him.

Rescuers were unable to save Zapata and he died.

The area was deemed unstable, and a rescue team wasn't able to remove his body until 9 p.m. Monday, Monterroza said.

She said an engineer had to draw up a safety plan in order for the body to be extracted safely.

Monterroza identified the contractor as U.S. Sino Investment Inc.

The accident remains under investigation, and Cal/OSHA will be reviewing the company's safety protocols and interviewing its employees, she said.

-Bay City News