Gaston Meza Rebollar: 49-Year-Old Construction Worker Dies After Tractor Traps Him at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza Redevelopment Site

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (July 13, 2026): A 49-year-old construction worker, Gaston Meza Rebollar, was killed Monday morning after the tractor he was operating rolled over and pinned him beneath it at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza redevelopment site on the 3700 block of West Santa Rosalia Drive in Los Angeles. A nearby heavy equipment operator used machinery to lift the overturned tractor before Los Angeles City firefighters and paramedics arrived on scene. Rebollar was pronounced dead just before 11 a.m. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office determined he died by accident as a result of blunt traumatic injuries. The Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office have opened an ongoing investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

Liability for Los Angeles County Fatal Tractor Rollovers

Heavy equipment rollovers on active construction sites are among the deadliest and most preventable workplace incidents. In California, worksite safety is governed by Cal/OSHA regulations under Title 8 of the California Code of Regulations, which require rollover protective structures, seatbelt use on covered equipment, operator training and certification, and safe ground and slope conditions for machinery. When a worker is killed on the job, workers' compensation death benefits are generally available to the family regardless of fault. Critically, workers' compensation is not always the only remedy: under California Labor Code § 3852, the family may also pursue third-party claims against parties other than the direct employer, such as a general contractor, the site owner or developer, an equipment manufacturer under a products liability theory, or a negligent subcontractor. Surviving family members may bring a wrongful death action under California Code of Civil Procedure § 377.60 seeking compensation for loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and funeral and burial expenses.

  • Rollover protection: Missing or defective rollover protective structures and seatbelts turn survivable rollovers into fatal ones.
  • Ground conditions: Unstable soil, slopes, and excavations cause heavy equipment to overturn.
  • Training and supervision: Operators must be trained and certified for the specific machinery they run.
  • Maintenance: Defective brakes, hydraulics, or tires on heavy equipment cause loss of control.

Steps to Take After a Los Angeles County Fatal Tractor Rollover

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, struck-by and caught-in-or-between incidents involving heavy equipment consistently rank among the leading causes of construction worker deaths in California.

  • Request the Cal/OSHA investigation file and any citations issued.
  • Preserve the equipment itself for independent inspection before it is repaired or scrapped.
  • Identify every contractor, subcontractor, and equipment owner active at the site.
  • Do not give recorded statements to insurers without legal counsel.
  • Consult a workers' compensation and wrongful death attorney promptly.

Statute of limitations: 2 years, California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. Workers' compensation claims have separate deadlines, generally one year under California Labor Code § 5405. Contact an attorney promptly to protect your rights.

Investigating Los Angeles County Fatal Tractor Rollovers

We at Carrazco Law, A.P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Gaston Meza Rebollar. Was the tractor involved in the rollover properly maintained and certified for safe operation at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza redevelopment site? Did the general contractor or site supervisor implement and enforce required rollover protection and equipment safety protocols mandated under California Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations?

Do you have questions about a Los Angeles fatal tractor rollover? Our team is here for you. Call us anytime at (800) 541-3244. Se Habla Español. Free consultation.