Got this in my in-box last night and felt that I needed to share:

Pregnant Traffic Agent Killed by Motorist
Funeral Scheduled for Monday August 25, 2008

CWA Local 1182 member Donnette Sanz, 33, a pregnant New York City Traffic Agent on duty, was hit by a 1986 Dodge van at the corner of 188th Street and Webster Avenue in the Bronx. The van pushed Agent Sanz into the path of a school bus, which also struck her causing her to die. She was brought to St. Barnabas Hospital, where doctors were able to save the life of her baby.

What: Funeral for CWA Local 1182 Member Traffic Enforcement Agent Donnette Sanz
When: Viewing: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Funeral Service: 11:00 AM
Where: Community Protestant Church, 1659 East Gunhill Road, Bronx NY

Statement by CWA Local 1182 President James Huntley:

"Officer Sanz was a dedicated member of CWA Local 1182 and served the city with distinction. As a union and community activist she devoted her life to making New York City a better place to live for all of us. This catastrophe points out the danger that traffic and sanitation enforcement agents face every day while performing their important duties.

I must commend those that came to the rescue of Donnette by lifting a school bus and pulling Officer Sanz from under the vehicle. These Bronx residents put their lives in danger to save another New Yorker and are true heroes". As the Mayor said, it's unfortunate that it can take a tragedy like this to remind everyone of the service our traffic agents perform every single day.

Donnette's son's birthday will now coincide with the day his mother died. I hope that as this child grows up, he comes to understand that his mother gave her life in service to our city and that we are forever grateful.

Officer Sanz was crossing Webster Ave. at E. 188th St. on her lunch break about 2 p.m. when she was struck by a van. She died during surgery shortly after she was run down on a Bronx street by an ex-con with a long history of license suspensions. He had been arrested twice for driving with a suspended license. Officer Sanz was pronounced dead shortly after her sons extraordinary birth. The child, named Sean Michael is in critical condition but healthy and expected to live.

For additional information or directions to the funeral contact CWA Local 1182 at 718-418-0897

Contact:
CWA Local 1182 President James Huntley: 917-418-0897,
Civil Service Merit Council President Neal Tepel: 646-591-6484

Our thoughts are with the Sanz family in these happiest of times and saddest of all times. I can't imagine how hard it must be to celebrate the birth of a child only to bury his mother. Blessed Be.

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“We’ll fix it. We’ll fix it.” But nothing ever happens. They’re pushing to get stuff done. They’re more interested in the money, than keeping the job safe.-Fred Medina, a member of Plasterers and Cement Masons Local 797


Construction jobs carry with them risks. From tunnel collapses to crane collapses, they are often very dangerous jobs. But 12 losses in Vegas during a period where the building “boom” has slowed seems just completely beyond the pale. From the Engineering News Record:

On June 17, Lyndall Bates, 49, of Tempe, Ariz. died after a 12-ft fall at Boyd Gaming’s $4.8-billion Echelon project. The accident is the project’s first fatality, but it is the 12th construction-related death on the Strip in less than 19 months.

Joe had a post up on the 4th about the MGM construction walk out on safety and as of yesterday, we have this from Boyd gaming about the loss of Mr. Bates Las Vegas Review-Journal :

In the joint statement with Tishman Construction and Marnell Corrao Associates, Boyd Gaming said the priority at Echelon is to ensure a safe construction site.

However, one worker wearing an Ironworkers Local 433 shirt said construction workers are feeling pressure to meet construction deadlines at the Strip project sites.
“They push us hard to meet deadlines,” the worker said.

Boyd is building the five-hotel resort and casino complex on 87 acres, much of which once housed the Stardust.

Meeting project deadlines is important, but not anywhere near as important as a human life. I’m betting that Lyndall Bates’ family would rather he still be around than to have to now plan a funeral.

Better safety, it should always be on all of our minds, not just workers and their unions, but managers, foremen and everyone else. Safety is vitally important to all of us.

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