Dairy worker crushed by cows; Cal/OSHA investigating

State officials are investigating the death of an Ontario dairy worker crushed while moving cattle over the weekend.

Winston Perez, 28, suffered severe internal injuries after he was “crushed between a gate and the fence by the cows” about 5 a.m. Saturday at Dick Dykstra Dairy, coroner’s and state officials said. The Riverside man underwent surgery at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, but died in the intensive care later that day.

Cal/OSHA spokesman Peter Melton noted state officials had no record of safety violations at the dairy. He said it would be “highly unusual” for the state to close a business in these circumstances, and said it would likely only be done if there was an “imminent” danger to other workers.

“That does not seem to be the case,” he said.

State inspectors visited the site after the incident and have six months to complete their inquiry, Melton said. They will speak to the employer and other workers, and will look at the dairy’s safety plan to see if any violations occurred, he said.

A man who answered the phone at the dairy Tuesday morning declined comment.

ALSO:

Containment of Hathaway fire near Banning expected June 25

Police arrest man on roof of Rihanna’s home in Pacific Palisades

Woman killed in West Hills talked to LAPD about estranged husband

Twitter: @katemather | Google+
kate.mather@latimes.com