Central Valley heat wave now blamed for two deaths
MODESTO
July 11, 2008
8:16am
• Elderly women dies in her Modesto home
• Farm worker dies after working in vineyard
The July heat wave is the suspected killer of two people this week in the Central Valley, according to initial investigations.
Margaret Mierzejewski, 91, died in her mobile home in Modesto Thursday. The home’s air conditioning was not working.
Abdon Felix, 42, a farm worker toiling in a vineyard near Arvin in Kern County, died Wednesday.
The California Occupational Safety and Health agency is investigating the death of Mr. Felix. The Stanislaus County Coroner is investigating the death of Ms. Mierzejewski.
There have been at least two other heat-related deaths of farm workers this summer. Maria Isavel Vasquez Jimenez, 17, died May 16 two days after collapsing in the heat while working in a San Joaquin County vineyard. Jose Macarena Hernandez, 64, collapsed while harvesting squash in a field near Santa Maria on June 20.