San Luis Obispo County, CA – On the afternoon of Friday, February 13, 2026, a single-vehicle backhoe rollover resulted in fatal injuries to 40-year-old Francisco Javier Gutierrez Urias of Avenal, according to The Tribune.
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office reports that the accident took place around 2:46 PM at 3435 Truesdale Road in Shandon.
Authorities said the backhoe overturned at a winery property, trapping Urias underneath the heavy equipment. Emergency crews from CAL FIRE and San Luis Obispo County Fire responded to the scene following reports of a tractor rollover involving a person pinned beneath the machinery.
Fire personnel worked for several hours to extricate the victim. As of 5:06 PM, responders were still at the scene attempting to free the trapped individual. A coroner was later dispatched to the property, and the fatality was officially confirmed by the Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, February 17.
Officials stated that the incident prompted a multi-agency response due to the severity of the situation and the complexity of the extrication efforts. The circumstances leading up to the rollover remain under investigation.
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When a worker dies due to a job-related injury or illness, surviving family members may be eligible for Workers’ Compensation Death Benefits. These payments can help support spouses, children, or other financial dependents impacted by the loss.
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