On September 22, 2021, at approximately 2:40 p.m., CDT, a contractor for Union Pacific Railroad Company (UP) was fatally injured while performing maintenance work on a bridge in Castroville, Texas, near Milepost 240.65 on UP’s Del Rio Subdivision. The contractor, operating a hi-rail excavator with a tie-talon attachment, was transporting 6,660 pounds of steel grating when the load shifted, causing the grating to penetrate the cab and fatally pin him. Investigations revealed violations of job safety protocols and misuse of equipment not designed for the task, contributing to the accident.