2024-03-02 21:26:19
In a tragic incident that has shocked the community of Bayamo, David Santaelena, a long-time sheet metal worker, lost his life in an explosion that occurred in his workshop. The event, which also left a mechanic who was helping him at the time seriously injured, has generated concern and consternation among local residents.
The explosion, whose causes are still being investigated by the authorities, allegedly occurred on Wednesday – the source cannot specify -, when David Santaelena, an elderly man recognized for his skill and dedication to the sheet metal trade, was working on the repair. of a vehicle.
According to what was known, it has not yet been determined if the incident was caused by an oxygen cylinder used in the oxyfuel cutting process or if it was the result of an ignition of combustion gases or remains of gasoline present in the fuel tank. automobile fuel.
The violence of the explosion not only claimed the life of Santaelena but also affected his assistant, whose identity has not been revealed due to the severity of his injuries.
The mechanic who helped him is currently receiving medical attention at the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Hospital, where doctors are fighting to save his life, maintaining a reserved prognosis due to the complexity of his injuries.
This unfortunate event has highlighted the risks inherent in the auto bodywork and auto mechanics profession, especially when handling potentially dangerous tools and substances such as oxygen and fuel.
The competent authorities have launched a thorough investigation to determine the exact causes of the explosion, in order to establish the relevant responsibilities.
In April of last year, an event very similar to this took place in Miami-Dade County, and as a result of this, Jean Paul Lauries-Martinez, 42, owner of a welding shop in Medley, was arrested on charges of involuntary manslaughter.
The explosion occurred on February 21 and Elias Gross, 59, and Vincent Williams, 54, died. The explosion at Lauries Trailer, General Welding and Repair, also left two people seriously injured and one injured.
The investigation revealed that Lauries-Martinez did not use proper equipment to purge the tank before welding, which led to the explosion. The workshop also did not have the correct license to weld cargo tanks.
The victims, initially wrongly reported as Cuban, were known in the community; Gross had started a fuel business the year before, and Williams was best friends with him. The community is in mourning, and the victims’ families are seeking justice. Lauries-Martinez’s bond was set at $20,000.
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