Cousin of scaffolding accident victim is 'disappointed' by company's actions
Five days after three men fell to their deaths as the scaffolding on a downtown Raleigh high-rise crumpled, a family member of one of the victims said he is disappointed in how the company is handling the tragedy.
Posted — UpdatedJose Erasmo Hernandez, 41, and Anderson Almeida, 33, both of Durham, and Jose Luis Lopez-Ramirez, 33, of Clinton, died Monday in the accident at the 11-story Charter Square project on Fayetteville Street. Elmer Guevara, 53, was seriously injured and remains hospitalized at WakeMed.
Hernandez's cousin, Mario Tulio Claros, described his cousin as a happy and giving man.
"He was a role model of all of us," Claros said.
According to Claros, Hernandez was working for Juba Aluminum when he died. Initially, company officials said they would take care of everything.
"Money is not going to bring my cousin back to life," he said. "They should not be so insensitive. Maybe they are managing the financial side of this among themselves."
As of Friday, Juba had not paid the funeral home, according to Claros.
"I'm not interested in the money, but they never worried for Erasmo," he said.
Claros said the company has stopped returning phone calls.
Earlier in the week Juba issued a statement saying, "our thoughts are with our employees and their families, and everyone affected by this incident."
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