Shelma Guerrero (Full Name: Shelma Reyna Guerrero), of Richmond, Died in UPS Accident After Being Hit By Falling Packages in Cargo Trailer —> GoFundMe Created to Help Victim’s Family
RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA (October 20, 2025) – A UPS worker and mother of five identified as Shelma Guerrero has tragically died in a Richmond industrial accident.
Contra Costa County officials are saying that the accident took place around 4:15 PM on Tuesday. Shelma Guerrero was loading a cargo trailer when multiple packages fell on top of her.
She was alone inside of the cargo trailer when the accident took place. A coworker later discovered that she was injured and called 911.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help the victim. Sadly, Shelma Guerrero was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cal/OSHA is currently investigating the incident. You can help support the family of the victim through GoFundMe.
According to the online fundraiser, “This money will help her son Aldo to allow him to put her to rest. Please keep Shelma and her family and kids in your prayers. If you can please share the go fund me we’d greatly appreciate it <3 May god bless you all. -Esme”
Liability for Richmond Industrial Accidents
As a general principle, workers in California are barred from pursuing negligence claims directly against their employers. Instead, most workplace accidents will be adjudicated through a separate system. When a worker is injured or killed in California, they or their surviving family members will typically have recourse through the workers’ compensation system. This is a no-fault insurance scheme designed to help injured workers and their families. In addition to workers’ compensation, surviving family members of a deceased worker may be able to pursue a third-party liability claim. There could be numerous sources of third-party liability for any workplace accident.
- Equipment Manufacturer: The company that manufactured a cargo trailer or any of the loading equipment could be liable if packages fall and injure a worker. For example, shelving may have been unstable and failed to properly support the weight put on it.
- Subcontractors: The company responsible for loading or unloading trailers could also bear some legal responsibility for an accident. They may have failed to stack packages in a safe manner, and this caused them to become unstable.
- Equipment Rental Company: The company that rented or serviced a trailer could bear some liability for any accident if it was due to improper maintenance or missing safety devices.
A number of lawsuits have been pursued after workers were injured or killed by falling loads. Consider, for example, Vargo-Schaper v. Weyerhaeuser Co. A truck driver was seriously injured after wood panels shifted and fell on top of him while he was unloading a trailer. The victim sued Weyerhaeuser, arguing that they negligently loaded and improperly secured the cargo. The court held the employers can be liable for accidents caused by latent loading defects that are not immediately obvious or visible to a worker.
Steps to Take After an Industrial Accident
Many workers are seriously injured or killed every year in accidents involving falling materials. According to one study by the BHC Safety Center, “there are more than 42,400 “struck by falling object” OSHA recordable incidents every year in the United States. That’s nearly 116 injuries caused by a dropped object every day or one injury caused by a dropped object every 10 minutes.” It is important that certain steps are taken after any of these accidents.
- Medical Evaluation: Victims should seek a medical evaluation as early as possible. Many of the injuries associated with workplace accidents may not be immediately obvious.
- OSHA Investigation: OSHA should be notified of the accident as soon as possible. They can help conduct a review of the incident and determine what may have gone wrong.
- Evidence Preservation: All of the evidence related to the accident should be properly preserved. This will include photos of the accident site and any surveillance footage that may have captured what happened.
- Independent Review: Workplace accidents should be independently reviewed by a team with experience and tort claims. Experienced legal counsel can help identify all potentially liable parties.
Workplace accidents are often highly complex events. The factors that contribute to any accident may take place hours, days, or even weeks beforehand. They tend to nearly always be the results of clear safety lapses. For example, companies may forgo required safety measures to expedite the time it takes to complete projects. The family of any person who died in a workplace accident may be able to seek some measure of transparency and accountability through CCP § 377.60.
Investigating Richmond Industrial Accidents
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Shelma Guerrero. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that similar tragedies can be prevented. Many questions remain unanswered. What was the company responsible for loading these packages? Did the loading comply with accepted safety standards?
Do you need more information about a Richmond UPS accident? Our team of workers’ rights advocates is here for you. We are committed to helping workers understand their rights and protecting those rights through skilled advocacy. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular incident, we are here to serve your needs. You can contact us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se habla español.
