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A UPS worker in California died after a stack of packages collapsed on her inside a cargo trailer, with officials calling the case an industrial accident.
Richmond police said 43-year-old driver Shelma Reyna Guerrero was loading packages alone when parcels fell on top of her. A co-worker later discovered her injured body and called emergency services, though responders confirmed she died at the scene.
Family members said on a GoFundMe page that the death involved a “malfunction of a machine.” Police noted investigators were awaiting autopsy results.
Cal/OSHA confirmed it has launched an inquiry. Richmond Police Lieutenant Donald Patchin added: “Officers were looking for video. I don't know if any was found, and they were going to interview witnesses.”
Union and co-workers demand answers
The local Teamsters union said it “is diligently working with Cal/OSHA and the Sheriff's Department to find out the true cause of this incident and to make sure our Teamsters members are all protected.”
UPS issued a statement saying: “Our thoughts are with their family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time. We are cooperating fully with the authorities to understand what happened and defer additional questions to them.”
Workers expressed frustration online, alleging the accident was preventable. Some said the extendable trailer conveyor machine “has been malfunctioning for some time.” One individual claiming to be a colleague wrote on Reddit that UPS treated the aftermath with little sensitivity.
“They shut us down for about two hours between both shifts and then started the building back up. Left her in the trailer with the door open,” the worker claimed, adding that Guerrero’s body was covered with sorting bags. “It was just business as usual. I’m so angry, upset and just freaking pissed off.”
History of workplace safety incidents at UPS
The incident adds to a series of workplace deaths at UPS facilities. In May 2024, subcontractor Juan Chavez died after falling into a garbage compactor in Dallas. In February, employee Dallas Carroll was fatally struck by a vehicle at the Louisville Worldport hub. Drivers have also died in shootings, crashes, and heat-related incidents.
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According to OSHA, UPS reported 1,142 severe injuries between January 2015 and May 2022, the highest number of any US employer and more than double Walmart’s figures.
Worker safety was central to labor negotiations in 2023 when the Teamsters threatened a nationwide strike. The resulting contract, described as historic, required UPS to provide new safety protections, including air conditioning in vehicles and ventilation upgrades in cargo areas.
Union leaders said in July they were monitoring compliance, alleging that UPS was moving slowly on commitments to buy air-conditioned delivery trucks.
