Gaston Meza Rebollar Died in Los Angeles Tractor Accident at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza Construction Site
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (July 17, 2026) – A 49-year-old construction worker identified as Gaston Rebollar has tragically died in a Los Angeles construction accident at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.
Los Angeles County officials are saying the incident occurred on Monday morning. Gaston Rebollar was struck by a tractor that rolled over and trapped him.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help him. They had to use heavy equipment to extricate the victim.
Despite life-saving measures, Gaston Rebollar died due to the severe nature of his injuries. A full investigation by OSHA remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Los Angeles Construction Accidents
Employers in the construction industry must maintain their sites in a reasonably safe condition and take certain precautions to prevent workers from being injured. Pursuant to California Labor Code § 6400(a), “Every employer shall furnish employment and a place of employment that is safe and healthful for the employees therein. On multiemployer worksites, both construction and nonconstruction, citations may be issued only to the following categories of employers when the division has evidence that an employee was exposed to a hazard in violation of any requirement enforceable by the division.” There are several actions employers should take to prevent construction workers from being injured in tractor accidents.
- Certifications: Only employees who have the proper certifications and training should be allowed to use heavy equipment.
- Pre-Shift Inspections: Tractors and other pieces of heavy equipment should receive periodic inspections to ensure that the brakes, steering, horns, and other essential components are in working order.
- Communication: Workers should be trained to maintain communication with one another. This is especially important at any site that makes use of tractors.
- Traffic Control Plan: Construction sites should establish a traffic control plan that diverts vehicles and heavy equipment away from pedestrian traffic.
When a worker is injured or killed in the construction industry, their surviving family members will normally have recourse to a workers’ compensation claim. The entire workers’ compensation system does not take into consideration negligence or fault. Injured workers will be able to receive assistance regardless of how any accident took place. An injured worker or their family may also be able to pursue damages through a third-party liability claim. A third-party liability claim may be possible if an entity separate from the worker’s employer contributed to an accident.
Third-Party Liability for Los Angeles Tractor Accidents
Construction workers are exposed to a variety of different hazards. This includes tractors and other large commercial vehicles. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “tractor rollovers account for about 130 work-related deaths every year. Although almost all new tractors sold in the U.S. since 1985 have been equipped with ROPS, millions of older tractors were not equipped with the devices and have not been retrofitted.” There are numerous sources of liability for any accident where a construction worker is killed by a tractor that rolled over.
- General Contractor: A general contractor could be liable for an accident if they failed to maintain a worksite in a reasonably safe condition.
- Tractor Company: The company that manufactured a tractor could be liable for an accident through a product liability claim. For example, a tractor may have lacked critical safety features such as a rollover protection structure.
- Rental or Leasing Company: The company that rented or leased a tractor could also be liable for an accident if that tractor had been rendered dangerous. This may be the case if the tractor was not properly maintained or otherwise lacked some critical safety feature.
Tractor accidents tend to be highly preventable in many different situations. They are often the consequence of one or more OSHA regulations not being followed. Even if a tractor does roll over, construction workers should be protected from serious injury when that tractor has adequate safety features. Unfortunately, a number of tractors that are in use at construction sites do not have key safety features. The family of any person who died in a construction accident may be able to seek some measures of accountability through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating Los Angeles Tractor Accidents
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Gaston Rebollar. 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 similar tragedies can be averted. Workers should not have to put themselves in needless danger to earn a living.
Do you need more information about a Los Angeles County construction accident? Are you concerned that this accident may have involved OSHA violations or other safety issues? Our team of workers’ rights advocates is here for you. We are committed to helping workers understand their rights and protecting their rights. You are always welcome to reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
