UPS driver Esteban Chavez Jr was pronounced dead, after he was found unconscious in his truck in Southern California.
Esteban Chavez, 24, was found unconscious in his UPS truck, after temperatures soared to the upper 90’s in southern California last week.
According to reports in the PEOPLE, Esteban collapsed in his vehicle while delivering parcels in Pasadena.
His family believes he died of a “suspected heat stroke.”
“He collapsed off his seat in the truck,” the man’s father, Esteban Chaves Sr, told the media outlet.
“By the time anyone realized it, which was the owner of the house where he delivered the package to, and that was about 20 minutes after my son already collapsed,” he told a media outlet.
The father further stated that by the time anyone showed up it was “obviously too late.”
“I’m still shocked. I can’t really believe it. My son just turned 24 on Friday,” said the grieving father.
Although the official cause of his death remains unclear, a report in ABC 7 suggests an investigation is underway.
Esteban’s family hopes this incident acts as a “lesson for anyone” working in higher temperature areas…
To “take precautions, drink plenty of water and keep cool,” as per reports.
In response to the grieving family, UPS have issued a statement to express their sorrow…
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our driver Esteban Chavez, and extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends. We are cooperating with the investigating authorities and are respectfully deferring questions about this incident to them,”read the statement to PEOPLE.
Continuing to express his sadness, Esteban’s father said “it hurts alot” to lose a child…”
“It kind of hurts that I wasn’t there to pick up my son. It hurts a lot. But I like to think God had a calling for him. They say the good die young. I’m sure my son was one of them,” he said, adding: “It hurts, it’s a pain that’s never gonna go away. And that’s something I wish on nobody, having the experience to lose your child.”
Our sincere condolences to Esteban’s family!