A woman has shared the harrowing final moments of her husband before he was tragically crushed by a burial vault, recounting the poignant voicemail he left her. Angel Anthony Rojas, employed at Restland Funeral Home as a machine operator, was responsible for handling heavy burial vaults designed to protect coffins and bodies. On October 20, while working in the storage yard, a nearly 2,000-pound vault fell on Angel, leaving him pinned and in distress.
In a desperate call for help, Angel left a panicked voicemail for his wife Nataly Galaviz, expressing his fear and desire to go home. Despite their plans to buy a house just a week before the incident, their dreams were shattered in an instant. Nataly, speaking to CBS News, tearfully recounted Angel’s plea for help and air while trapped under the vault.
When Dallas Fire Rescue arrived, they found Angel trapped waist-down under the heavy vault. It took over 45 minutes for rescue teams to free him, but he succumbed to his injuries upon reaching the hospital. Remembered as a dedicated employee who supported grieving families, Angel’s sudden death has left his loved ones devastated.
Litigation attorney Matthew Graham, representing the family, alleged that Angel was working solo on a task meant for multiple employees, hinting at gross negligence by Restland Funeral Home. Nataly emphasized that her husband was cautious and knowledgeable about his work, questioning the circumstances that led to his solitary work that day.
Graham called for attention to prevent similar tragedies in the future, urging a thorough investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The Mirror reached out to Restland Funeral Home for comment on the incident.