Fourth possible heat-related death investigated this year in Ca. fields

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_9925864

The Associated Press
Article Launched: 07/18/2008 04:44:25 PM PDT

FRESNO, Calif.—State labor officials are investigating if high heat caused the death of a farmworker in Kingsburg last week in what could be the fourth heat-related death in the fields this summer.

A spokesman for the Department of Industrial Relations says 46-year-old Ramiro Carrillo was picking nectarines at Sun Valley Packing for about four hours on July 10 when he became ill and went home. Temperatures that day in the area reached 112 degrees.

He died later at his Selma home.

The Fresno County coroner said Friday they are withholding the autopsy report while Cal-OSHA continues its investigation into working conditions.