Manuelito resident Bennie Duboise, 31, fell to his death Wednesday while stationed on top of the Second Street bridge along Interstate 40.

Duboise was taken by ambulance to Gallup Indian Medical Center for treatment of critical injuries at about 6:40 p.m. He died at the hospital minutes after 7 p.m.

Lt. Rick White, a spokesman for the Gallup Police Department, said the investigation into the fall is ongoing, but Duboise was in the company of A.S. Horner co-workers when he fell 20-plus feet onto the concrete roadway on north Second Street.

White explained detectives’ investigation revealed that at least five of the crewman, including Duboise and foreman Leonard Yazzie, were drinking alcohol prior to the fall.

The crew was prepared to leave for the day when Duboise was walking along a metal beam and fell. He was not wearing protective gear.

Jay Myers, safety director for A.S. Horner Construction, said the site will be shut down for at least the remainder of the week while the company conducts its own investigation into the fall. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is also conducting a separate inquiry.

“We’re very saddened by the loss of Bennie,” Myers said Thursday afternoon. “ ... We’re going to do whatever we can to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

He said the fall occurred after work hours and the employees who were drinking were not on the clock.

White said the foreman, Yazzie, was arrested Wednesday evening on drunken driving charges as he drove from the construction site unaware of his co-worker’s fatal fall.

Officers reported that Yazzie was driving in an erratic manner and has been arrested for DWI on repeated occasions. According to jail records, Wednesday’s arrest marks Yazzie’s sixth alcohol-related arrest.

Gov. Bill Richardson has asked the Department of Transportation to review all contracts and explore appropriate action, including termination, with A.S. Horner Construction.

“With all we’ve done to combat drunk driving and alcohol abuse in this state, this behavior is unacceptable,” Gov. Richardson said in a news release. “I want to be sure that the contractor is held accountable.”

In addition, the New Mexico Environment Department is taking action.

“The New Mexico Environment Department's Occupational Health and Safety Bureau will review the case thoroughly to determine what caused the death,” said New Mexico Environment Department Secretary Ron Curry in the same release.

The construction crew was assigned to work on the Interstate 40 bridge on north Second Street when the incident occurred. Many of the crew members specialize in welding.

White said officers recovered bottles of alcohol at the scene. **************************************************

I wonder if this is a common occurrence? All employees involved with the incident were fired. Initially, KOB TV reported that the foreman was aware of the accident and bolted from the work site. The site was also reported to be strewn with beer bottles. As a result of this accident, all of the contractor's work in NM has been suspended. :(

Submitted on 04/28/2008

Submitted by: Thebes
Reference: Gallup Independent 4/25/08

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

Candi said:
Maybe Toss: Other
Where's the excellence? I see drunk idiocy and morons taking advantage of rules that make it very hard to fire them, but no incredible excellence in form of death. This guy's not the first to go tightrope/beam walking drunk.

Chip said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Walking the beam is a common occurence with iron workers, especially the high steel ones. I know many who are in this profession. While most are rough and tumble types all that I know are smarter than to drink while on the steel. I think this one deserves consideration. Thanks for the story, Thebes

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I agree with Chip on this one. Construction workers, especially iron workers, routinely walk narrow beams up high on construction sites. I'm sure the vast majority of them know that mixing alcohol into such a work situation is an almost guaranteed invitation to disaster. This guy certainly should have known better. Thanks for sending this in, Thebes.