In Houston, the Vargas family is grieving the tragic loss of 39-year-old Arlen Roy Vargas, who died in a workplace accident on Friday night. The incident occurred at a Niagara Bottling facility near Seguin, Texas, just outside San Antonio.
Police reported that Vargas was fatally crushed between a tractor-trailer and a building. Emergency responders and employees attempted to save him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident has left his family in shock and searching for answers.
“This is the worst thing that’s happened to me, losing a son,” said Noe Vargas, Arlen’s father. His sister, Mireya Vargas, expressed her disbelief and sorrow, adding that the family had been looking forward to reuniting for Arlen’s 40th birthday in May.
Arlen Vargas was a devoted father to seven children, ranging in age from 1 to 15 years old. His youngest brother, Kevin Vargas, described him as a loving father who always wore a smile around his kids. “He was an amazing father, very loving. He had the biggest smile when he saw his kids,” Kevin said.
Originally from California, Arlen had moved to Texas to better support his family. He became a truck driver two years ago and was the sole provider for his wife and children. At the time of the accident, he was working as a driver for another company and waiting for a shipment at the Niagara Bottling facility.
According to police, the driver of the tractor-trailer involved in the accident received a green light to back into a loading dock area. Employees discovered Arlen pinned behind the trailer when they opened the dock door. It remains unclear why Arlen had exited his vehicle and was near the building.
Niagara Bottling released a statement expressing their condolences and commitment to cooperating with the authorities during the investigation. Meanwhile, the Vargas family is left with unanswered questions. “There’s just a lot of questions and a lot of inconsistencies right now, and until we know for sure, I can’t get closure,” Kevin Vargas said.
