Wife and Kids Waited for Dad to Come Home to Celebrate His 26th Birthday, Only to Learn He Died in Industrial Accident

A mother of two was preparing to celebrate her husband’s 26th birthday when she received heartbreaking news — he had died in a workplace accident earlier that day.

Now, she’s honoring his memory and the love he left behind.

“I’m just really proud of him; he worked until his very last breath to make everything possible for us,” said Alexia Mungaray, speaking about her husband, Omar Quihui, who died while working at a cement plant in Tucson, Arizona, on Monday, October 6.

That evening, around 5:30 p.m., deputies responded to reports of an industrial accident near Swan Road and East Old Vail Road, where a CalPortland facility is located, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. When officials arrived, they found Quihui beneath a concrete mixer. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities said there were no signs of suspicious or criminal activity, though the incident remains under investigation.

Mungaray, who was at home with their 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter, said she began to worry when her husband stopped responding to calls and messages.

“I went to buy him his birthday cake. He wasn’t answering me still,” she told KOLD. “I got on Facebook, and the very first thing I saw was that there was an industrial accident.”

Family members rushed to the site and learned that Quihui, a technician, had been working on an equipment axle when it collapsed, crushing him.

“I found out that he was under the truck for four hours by himself,” Mungaray said. “His supervisor had found him unconscious. They said it was pretty instant.”

Quihui had been with the company for only five months. His wife said that while he was a dedicated and skilled worker, he could have benefited from more training and support.

A doorbell camera later revealed their final exchange before he left for work that day. After Mungaray told him, “I love you,” he responded, “Bye, I love you, babe.”

In a statement, CalPortland expressed deep sorrow over the loss, saying the company was “incredibly saddened” by the tragedy and was cooperating fully with investigators.

Following his death, Mungaray created a GoFundMe page to help support their family.

“There are no words to describe the pain, grief and sorrow that I’m left to feel,” she wrote, describing Quihui as a devoted partner, father, and friend.

“He was great at everything he did,” she added. “It pains me to come on here and have to make this, as he was so very proud of being our provider.”

Now, Mungaray says she is focusing on finding strength for their two young children. “I’m left to figure things out for our children and myself,” she wrote.