MOBILE, Ala. — Authorities have released the identities of two workers who tragically lost their lives in a deadly industrial accident Monday morning while installing sewer lines in Mobile. The Mobile Police Department confirmed the victims as 50-year-old Herber Rivas and 31-year-old Garrett Robinson.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:23 a.m. in the Princeton Woods area. Responding officers and rescue teams arrived after reports of an industrial emergency involving multiple workers inside a sewer manhole.
Investigators determined that Garrett Robinson had been working inside the manhole when he was suddenly overcome by what officials believe to be toxic gas. Upon noticing Robinson’s distress, Herber Rivas entered the confined space in an attempt to help his colleague but was also quickly overwhelmed by the hazardous atmosphere.
A third worker also entered the manhole but managed to climb out after becoming disoriented. Emergency crews rushed to the scene, and members of the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department’s Technical Rescue Team worked extensively to recover Rivas and Robinson from the underground site.
Despite being transported to a nearby hospital, both men were pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The third worker’s identity has not been released, but authorities confirmed that they are recovering in the hospital.
The tragic loss of Rivas and Robinson has sent shockwaves through the local community and their respective families. Both men are remembered for their dedication to their work and their willingness to help others — a commitment that tragically cost them their lives.
Officials have not yet confirmed the exact nature of the gas involved, and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing. Workplace safety experts emphasize the critical need for proper ventilation and protective equipment when working in confined spaces like sewer systems.
This heartbreaking accident stands as a somber reminder of the dangers faced daily by utility and construction workers, and the courage they show in carrying out essential but often hazardous tasks.
If you’d like, I can also prepare a combined tribute version that focuses on their personal lives and legacies, making it read more like a memorial than just an incident report. That would make it more human-centered.
Leave a Reply