Jonathan Guidi (Full Name: Jonathan Dillard Guidi) Died in Construction Accident After Falling From Scaffold at Sylvia Mendez Elementary School in Berkeley —> GoFundMe Created to Support Victim’s Family
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA (November 9, 2025) – A 41-year-old construction worker identified as Jonathan Guidi of Sacramento has tragically died in a Berkeley scaffold accident at Sylvia Mendez Elementary School.
Berkeley police officials are saying that the accident took place around 12:50 PM on Thursday. Jonathan Guidi fell roughly 30 feet from a scaffold and landed onto concrete.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help the victim. He was transported to Highland Hospital in critical condition. Tragically, Jonathan Guidi did not survive the severe nature of his injuries and was pronounced dead that same afternoon.
Investigators believe that the victim was installing the scaffold when he fell. A full investigation by Cal/OSHA remains ongoing at this time.
He is survived by a wife and seven children. You can help support the family of the victim through GoFundMe.
According to the online fundraiser, “Yesterday, our family suffered an unimaginable tragedy. My sister-in-law, Sarah, lost her beloved husband, JD, in a sudden scaffolding accident while he was at work. He leaves behind not only the love of his life, but seven beautiful children who are now facing life without their father.”
Liability for Berkeley Construction Accidents
Falls remain one of the leading causes of preventable injury and death for workers across the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “In 2023, about 1 in 5 (20.8 percent) workplace deaths occurred in the construction industry and 38.5 percent of these deaths were due to falls, slips, and trips. The construction industry accounted for 47.8 percent of all fatal falls, slips, and trips in 2023.” Construction companies should take a number of measures to protect workers from falls.
- Hazard Assessment: Construction companies should perform a hazard assessment to identify areas that contain fall risks.
- Guardrails: Construction companies should install guard rails in certain areas to prevent workers from accidentally falling over ledges.
- Personal Protective Equipment: Construction companies should provide workers with adequate personal fall arrest systems (PFAS) when they work at heights of six feet or more.
Generally speaking, employees in California are barred from bringing negligence claims against their employers. There are exceptions if an employer acts willfully and injures a worker. Most claims will be pursued through the workers’ compensation system. This is a no-fault insurance plan designed to help workers and their surviving family members.
Third-Party Liability for Berkeley Construction Accidents
Depending on the facts of any case, there could be third-party liability for a construction accident. A third-party liability claim may be possible if an entity separate from a worker’s employer contributed to an accident. There could be numerous sources of third-party liability for any scaffold accident.
- Scaffold Manufacturer: The company that manufactured a scaffold could potentially be liable if their product was defective and contributed to some type of collapse.
- General Contractor: A general contractor could be liable for an accident if they failed to maintain a worksite and a reasonably safe condition.
- Property Owner: A property owner could also face liability for an accident if they were the entity that provided scaffold equipment or had some type of control over a worksite.
The vast majority of scaffold accidents are entirely preventable. They tend to be the result of safety lapses. In particular, a worker may not have been provided with fall protection. Fall protection has saved the lives of countless workers over the years in the construction industry. The family of any worker who died in an accident will be able to see some transparency through a civil action.
Investigating Berkeley Construction Accidents
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jonathan Guidi. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. It is our sincere hope that additional safety precautions are taken to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Safety should be the number one priority for every company engaged in construction projects.
Do you need more information about a Berkeley scaffold accident? Our team of construction accident investigators is here for you. We are committed to helping victims understand their rights and working to make all construction sites safer through skilled advocacy. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular accident, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
