Local 1245 members who died on the job.

2008

Felipe Chavez

PG&E Lineman Felipe Chavez was fatally electrocuted on Jan. 11, 2008 while working on a power pole along Highway 193 near Cool, east of Auburn.

Manuel Angel Lucas

Davey Tree Surgery Co. employee Manuel Angel Lucas was struck by a tree and died while working outside of Ben Lomond, CA on Jan. 3, 2008.

2006

John Goeringer

John Goeringer, a new bargaining unit electrician in the Water Treatment Division at South San Joaquin Irrigation District, died Nov. 28, 2006 from head injuries after an apparent fall while working indoors at a water treatment plan pumping facility. 

Arthur "Earl" Verbeck

Arthur “Earl” Verbeck died Jan. 23, 2006 when a portable crane he was loading onto a trailer fell and trapped him beneath it. Verbeck, a heavy-duty equipment operator, had worked at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District for 20 years.

2005

Robert Sluga

Robert Sluga, a journeyman lineman working for Mountain Power under the Local 1245 Outside Construction agreement, died Nov. 8, 2005 following a jobsite accident. Sluga fell off the back of a John Deere Gator that was being used for transportation and hauling material. The transmission crew had been performing maintenance work outside of Ukiah, Ca.

2004

Kevin Knutson

Pacific Gas & Electric Lineman Kevin Knutson, 47, died on Jan. 13, 2004 while working on a 115 kv tower between Morro Bay Power Plant and the community of Los Osos. Knutson was initiated into the IBEW in 1978 and worked for many years in Outside Construction before coming to PG&E in 1997.

Randy Imai

Randy Imai, a 29-year member of Local 1245, died Jan. 5, 2004 from injuries sustained in a fall from a pole while performing work as a lineman for Pacific Gas & Electric.

2003
 
Rafael Barajas

Line Clearance Tree Trimmer Rafael Barajas, 33, suffered a fatal injury while performing storm response work for Asplundh Tree Expert Co. in the San Carlos area on Dec. 13, 2003.

Bill Baker

IBEW member Bill Baker, who worked in Outside Construction, died Oct. 1, 2003 while working in the Redding area on a job for Montain Power.

Darrin Siegfried

Journeyman Lineman Darrin Siegfried, a traveler out of Local 44 in Montana, died from an electrical contact on Sept. 8, 2003 while performing work for International Line Builders west of Santa Nella, Ca. off Highway 152.

Local 1245 extends its condolences to the friends, family and co-workers of these union brothers who died in the performance of their duties.