Asiah Mendoza
Assistant Editor
A subcontractor was killed and another was injured Sept. 22 while working on construction of the College of Business and Library building, university officials said.
The incident occurred at 1:59 p.m. that day, according to a post on Texas A&M University-San Antonio’s Instagram page on Sept. 22. The University Police Department responded to two subcontractors who were injured during the installation of air handler units.
One subcontractor died and the other was hospitalized, according to a follow-up email from University Communications on Sept. 23
On Sept. 24, the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the deceased subcontractor as 56-year-old David Loree. The office said that the next of kin has been notified.
The medical examiner’s office listed his cause of death as accidental “crush injuries.” The reported time of death on the medical examiner’s office records is 2:47 p.m. the day of the incident.
Jenny Moore, director of student media, said University President Cynthia Teniete-Matson noted the other subcontractor was in critical condition in a Faculty Senate meeting Sept. 24.
Flags on campus will be flown at half-staff Sept. 27 to honor the families, employees and co-workers.
The Mesquite reached out to the University Police Department to schedule an interview with Assistant Police Chief Roger Stearns but he was unavailable by deadline.
The Mesquite contacted San Antonio Fire Department Station No. 2, 1058 W Villaret Blvd, for information about the incident, but the team that responded was not available by deadline, nor did SAFD spokesman Woody Woodward reply to requests for information Sept. 24.
In the email from University Communications, the building contractor is Byrne Construction. The Mesquite reached out to Byrne Construction for comment but did not receive a response by deadline.
In the Instagram post, A&M-San Antonio said the incident is under investigation and classes will not be affected.
