San Diego
A 33-year-old construction worker died when an embankment fell on him, Fire Department officials said.
Steven Rudolph Gullucci of Escondido was pounding a stake at the bottom of an embankment at 1750 El Paso Real in La Jolla when the accident occurred about 11:17 a.m. Monday, said Jennifer Simpson, a Fire Department spokeswoman.
Gullucci was working at the bottom of a 15-foot embankment made of clay and rock, and his pounding was “apparently enough to bring it down,” Simpson said.
He was covered with dirt, and his co-workers were able to clear it to his waist before firefighters arrived, Simpson said.
Firefighters took about a half-hour to dig him out, Simpson said.
Gullucci died of internal injuries shortly after arrival at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, said Dave Freeman, a hospital spokesman.
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