Two construction firms fined after deadly Goodyear trench collapse

GOODYEAR, AZ (AZFamily) — Two construction firms linked to a trench collapse that left a worker dead at a Goodyear job site earlier this year have been fined, according to newly obtained documents.

C S Construction, Inc., the employer, was fined twice for a total of $33,100 for violations related to failing to have the excavations properly inspected by a “competent person,” and “not having an adequate protective system” to secure the trench, the records showed. In addition, Core Construction, Inc., the general contractor, was fined $16,550.

Both citations were listed as “serious” by the Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health.

The new documents revealed that crews were working to install electrical conduit for a new traffic light on July 28, 2025, when the worker, 44-year-old Ronald Andrew Baquera, Jr., became trapped.

While fellow workers and first responders tried to help him, more dirt collapsed in, making the rescue impossible, police said. Baquera’s body was recovered more than 12 hours after the first 911 calls came in.

See a spelling or grammatical error in our story? Please click here to report it.

Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.