A 23-year-old municipal employee in Sweetwater, Texas, tragically lost his life earlier this week while responding to a service call, city officials and family members confirmed.
The City of Sweetwater announced the death of Robert Saucedo, a water department worker and father of a 5-year-old daughter, in an official press release.
According to city officials, Saucedo had been dispatched on the evening of Tuesday, July 29, to the 1000 block of East 13th Street to address a reported water leak. While working to repair the issue, he suffered a fatal injury.
In an interview with ABC affiliate KTXS, Saucedo’s mother-in-law, Josie Jennings, said the incident involved a saw.
“He just looked and he knew something was wrong. He was trying to talk. He couldn’t. So they pulled him out and one of them just gave him the shirt off his back and just [held] him,” Jennings recalled, sharing what coworkers had told her about their efforts to save Saucedo’s life.
Saucedo was transported to Rolling Plains Memorial Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, the city said.
“We are heartbroken by this devastating loss,” said Bryan Sheridan, Sweetwater’s interim city manager. “Robert was a valued member of the City of Sweetwater team, and we are committed to supporting his family and colleagues as we navigate this difficult loss together.”
Jennings told KTXS that she had known Saucedo since he was 12 years old and described him as her daughter’s first love.
“They separated as they got older, and they rekindled about a year ago,” she said.
Saucedo joined the city’s water distribution department in October 2024 and had been working toward obtaining his D license, a credential that would further his education and career in the water industry, according to the city’s news release.
“The City of Sweetwater extends its deepest sympathies to the Saucedo family during this time,” the statement read. “Counseling and support services will be made available to all City employees impacted by this tragic loss.”
Jennings noted that while the job didn’t offer hazard pay, Saucedo was deeply dedicated to his work.
“He was always excited about overtime, excited about just going on call. He was always the first to jump in and say, ‘Yes, I’ll do it,’” she told KTXS.
Saucedo leaves behind a 5-year-old daughter. Jennings described him as “a loving, funny, hardworking person,” and urged others to help keep his memory alive for his child’s sake.
In a statement shared with PEOPLE on Friday, Aug. 1, the City of Sweetwater said it “has complied with all reporting requirements” and will continue to cooperate with “all applicable investigations.”
