An employee of UPS lost her life after being crushed by packages while loading a cargo trailer at the company’s Richmond, California, facility on Sunday, September 21, 2025, as reported by police. The victim was identified as Shelma Reyna Guerrero, a 43-year-old mother of five from Richmond.
Officers from the Richmond Police Department arrived at the UPS warehouse near Atlas Road and Oakmont Drive shortly after 4:15 p.m. following a report of an industrial accident. Initial investigations suggested that Reyna was working alone in a trailer loading packages when several packages fell on her.
A colleague later found Reyna injured inside the trailer and immediately contacted emergency services. Despite the efforts of first responders to save her, she was pronounced dead at the scene. The Contra Costa County Coroner confirmed her identity on Tuesday.
Reyna’s family noted she had been employed at the Richmond facility since the previous fall. Her ex-husband, Juan Icazbalceta, expressed his sorrow over the loss, stating it felt like a nightmare. Family members shared that other UPS workers indicated it might have been four hours before Reyna was discovered in the container.
Lieutenant Donald Patchin, a spokesperson for the Richmond Police Department, confirmed that the fatal incident appears to be an industrial accident rather than a criminal case.
Cal/OSHA has initiated an investigation into the workplace death. The agency stated it has up to six months to issue citations if any workplace safety regulation violations are identified. As the investigation continues, no further details have been released.
UPS released a statement expressing deep sadness over the loss of a team member. The company extended its condolences to Reyna’s family, friends, and colleagues during this challenging time. UPS representatives stated that they are “cooperating fully with the authorities to understand what happened” and referred any additional inquiries to law enforcement.
Alberto Ruiz, Teamsters Local 315 president, issued a statement indicating the union’s collaboration with Cal/OSHA and the Sheriff’s Department to uncover the cause of the incident and ensure the safety of Teamsters members. The union expressed profound grief over the death in the workplace.
Family and friends have set up a GoFundMe campaign to assist with Reyna’s funeral expenses. The fundraiser organizer, Esmeralda Ocampo, described Reyna as a healthy individual with no prior health issues prior to the incident. Ocampo depicted her as a remarkable person who helped those in need.
As of Friday, October 3, the campaign had raised over $20,000. All contributions will be directed toward funeral services.
This incident highlights the ongoing workplace safety issues in the package delivery industry. According to the AFL-CIO, over 5,000 workers die on the job annually nationwide, with millions more experiencing injuries or illnesses. In Wisconsin alone, 112 workers were killed on the job in 2023, with approximately one-fifth of those deaths resulting from contact with objects and equipment.
The Richmond facility processes packages for delivery throughout the Bay Area. The investigation into the circumstances that led to the packages falling on Reyna is ongoing, with multiple agencies working to determine any lacking safety measures.
Reyna is survived by her five children, who are now without their mother.
