A memorial fund has been established for Dean Williams, the Houston-based rigger who fell and died at AT&T Center on April 5, 2013. Dean leaves behind a wife and baby daughter. The fund has been established for his wife, Haley, and Lydia, his 3 and a half month old baby. Dean was caring for his family, and now they need help. Like any of our fallen brothers and sisters, if you can help out, I'm sure even a few bucks would be beneficial.
Dean fell from the primary steel at AT&T Center, allegedly when he unclipped to maneuver around a beam when he fell around 100 feet to the arena floor. Dean was pronounced dead at the scene. From KSAT in San Antonio:
The man had been wearing a harness connected to a safety line, Berry said, but he disconnected it to step around a beam, where he intended to reconnect to another safety line on the other side.
That's when Williams lost his balance.
According to the AT&T Center's website, a Romeo Santos concert took place at the venue starting at 8 p.m. Thursday.
Leo Gomez, spokesman for the AT&T Center, said Occupational Safety and Health administration inspectors had been in the building.
He said OSHA officials briefly talked with him about the incident, but asked he not speak about it while the investigation is ongoing.
Gomez said OSHA “released the building to proceed with its events,” which includes a Rampage hockey game starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Please be safe out there, everyone. One second you're unclipping to move around a beam, and the next second, there's a memorial fund for your wife and infant daughter. Please be safe, folks. Our work in this industry isn't worth a single Dean Williams, or Nathan Byrd, or anyone else who I've had to report on dying this year.
Please, please be careful out there. For your babies and wives and dogs and cats, please be careful.