Cell Tower News: Accident claims 5 tower climbers

by Jarad Matula July 31, 2015

written by Jarad Matula July 31, 2015

Auto accident claims climber lives, memorial fund set up

Five tower climbers from Wingate Communications were driving in a pickup truck in Brooksville, Fla., this week when a box truck ran a stop sign, hitting the truck full force. After impact, a large amount of transmission fluid, gear oil and motor oil leaked into a drainage area causing the truck to catch fire. The fire claimed the lives of all five tower climbers in the truck, while the two occupants of the box truck were fortunate to only have serious injuries, being airlifted to area hospitals. The names of four of the five climbers, all from Florida, have been released:

Apolinar Nunez, 49, of Winter Haven
Jose Gomez, 53, of Winter Haven
Santos Vega, 24, of Plant City
Guillermo Chavez, 24, of Plant City

The fifth member’s name has been withheld until authorities in Mexico can notify his relatives. Wingate Communications released this official statement:

“We are extremely saddened by this tragic accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with our lost employees’ families at this time. The loss of five lives is a humbling and heart wrenching experience for all involved. Wingate Communications is a family and we will grieve and work together as families do to get through tough times.”

Among the five men, there are seven young children left without fathers and in the difficult position of carrying on. Fortunately, the story does not end there. Wingate Communications has set up a GoFundMe memorial fund to help these children. If you would like to donate, please do so. Donations can also be made to the fund through direct deposits and ACH transactions to MIDFLORIDA, Routing Number 263179804, Memorial Account Number 121914321.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the friends and family of the injured and deceased.

Irresponsible climb garners industry ire

This week the tower community was in an uproar when an irresponsible tower climber posted a photo of himself and his girlfriend atop a tower. Said girlfriend had no hardhat, and was wearing shorts and open-toed sandals to name a few of the faux pas. This flies in the face of an inexperienced woman’s tower death earlier this year and the industry’s increased efforts to up safety.

Here’s the offending photo: