A Santa Elena man was killed yesterday evening at Mile 54, Western Highway, when he fell from a height of approximately 60 feet.
Neri Waight, Sr., 62, was in a crane bucket, cutting the branch of a tree with a chain saw, when that branch, weighing approximately 400 hundred pounds, hit the bucket, causing him to fall over.
The incident occurred today in the Old Mills area, Ontario Village, at around 4:00 p.m.
Reliable sources also tell us that Waight was not strapped to the bucket, and upon making contact with the ground, sustained several broken bones and died on impact.
When we visited the Old Mills area, we learned that Waight was not a resident of Ontario Village, but that he was working at the site when the fatal accident occurred.
Some 23 Miles away into Santa Elena Town, Cayo, we met his family and spoke with his common-law wife, Geraldine Castillo.
According to Castillo, Waight, a father of 9, had been working at the location for about 30 years. Castillo also tells us that Waight did not like being strapping down; therefore, she believes the company is not to be blamed.
Castillo gave us an account of how she understands the incident occurred.
“At work he was in a bucket from the crane. He was limbing a tree, and the same limb came down and hit the bucket, sending him over, but he is that type of person that does not like to tie himself, and he would say you too afraid – always,” said Castillo.”
Castillo says that the news was difficult to take, for she has always kept contact with him while he was at work, and in addition, Waight, was a healthy person.
“Yesterday at about 4 o’clock, I heard about the news. My sister-in-law called me and asked me if I knew anything, and I said no. But I usually speak with him every day when he is at work; I would usually give him a call. I called him once and we were talking for a little while and then he told me OK, Vida later. I will try to come home early. I was thinking about nothing until they gave me the news, and I did not believe it, because he is a healthy person. It was, I don’t know how to explain it, but it was a shock to me to hear about that,” said Castillo.
According to Castillo, she would not have traded the 12 years they spent together for anything.