Daniel Bustos-Mendez Obituary, Death; – The contractor killed Aug. 7 while working on a project for Yuba Water Agency has been identified as Daniel Bustos-Mendez, 33, of Hayward, the Yuba County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.
A contractor with the Antioch construction company Drill Tech Drilling and Shoring Inc., Bustos-Mendez was killed in an accident while working on a $77 million tunnel and penstock project for Yuba Water near New Colgate Powerhouse in Dobbins. The construction equipment he was operating fell down an embankment and he died following the accident, the sheriff’s office said.
A spokesperson with the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) said Friday that they are investigating the incident, but no further information could be provided.
In a GoFundMe campaign posted online, Drill Tech said they are “heartbroken to share the unexpected passing of our beloved colleague.”
“For nearly a decade, Daniel played a key role as a lead man on our project teams,” Drill Tech continued. “He brought positivity, hard work, and an unyielding passion to his role. His dedication to the team, kindness to his coworkers, and unwavering commitment to excellence will never be forgotten.”
The company donated $100,000 to the GoFund me campaign, which had raised $150,000 as of Tuesday evening.
The Appeal-Democrat attempted to reach Drill Tech for further comment but was unsuccessful.
Yuba Water is upgrading a four-mile-long rock tunnel and one-mile-long penstock that transports water from the Bullards Bar Reservoir to the New Colgate Powerhouse. The project is expected to be complete in January 2026.
