On Wednesday afternoon, a tragic event unfolded in Vancouver’s Oakridge neighborhood when a worker lost her life due to a crane accident.
Mayor Ken Sim expressed deep sorrow over the incident, stressing the importance of maintaining safety at construction sites.
Emphasizing the importance of worksite safety, he assured that city officials are dedicated to safeguarding all individuals involved in construction projects and will strive to avoid similar incidents in the future.
Matthew Trudeau from Vancouver Fire Rescue Services confirmed the tragic event, highlighting the impact of the load falling on the building.
Who is Yuridia Flores?
Yuridia Flores, a mother of two from Mexico, tragically lost her life in a crane accident at the construction site in Vancouver’s Oakridge Park.
After years of perseverance, Yuridia Flores finally became a permanent resident of Canada in 2023. Starting her first job as a labourer at the Cambie Street and 41st Avenue project, it was a dream come true for her.
However, it turned into a nightmare when the accident occurred. Her common-law husband, Daniel Hernandez, had left his job as a glazer at the same site for an appointment when he received the devastating call.
Upon arriving at the scene, Hernandez was met with a heartbreaking sight – emergency crews, blocked roads, and the news that Yuridia had been fatally struck.
Hernandez had the opportunity to see her, but he decided not to because he was afraid of what he might see due to the nature of the accident.
“At that moment, I didn’t feel right in my legs and everything,” he explained.
“I didn’t ask many questions. I was thinking about what to do next. How am I going to break the news to Diego? How am I going to tell the family?”
Hernandez had to interrupt Diego’s soccer practice to deliver the heartbreaking news and assure him, “I will always support you.”
“Diego started crying and didn’t believe me,” he said. The 16-year-old wanted to go to the hospital to see her.
Neither of them has had the chance to visit Flores’ body yet. It is still with the coroner for an autopsy.
“I missed my chance to say goodbye,” Hernandez lamented. He also mentioned, “I don’t know if I’m allowed” to see her.
A GoFundme Account Has Been Created to Support The Family of Yuridia Flores
The family has started a GoFundMe campaign to assist them with the costs.
The reason behind the tragic incident is still being investigated, and the construction site, which has a workforce of over 1,700 employees, is currently under a stop-work order from WorkSafeBC.
Hernandez mentioned that he doesn’t harbor any anger towards specific individuals regarding the tragedy. However, he hopes that Flores’ passing will serve as a strong reminder about the importance of workplace safety.
