Hector Maldonado, 71, of Bourne, Died in Heavy Machinery Accident While Working at Cranberry Bog
BOURNE, MASSACHUSETTS (November 25, 2025) – A 71-year-old man identified as Hector Maldonado has tragically died in a Bourne workplace accident at a cranberry bog.
Bourne officials are saying that the accident took place on Friday. Hector Maldonado was operating a piece of heavy equipment identified as a bog sander. For undetermined reasons, the bog sander rolled on top of him. The victim’s coworkers used a front-end loader in an attempt to save him.
Firefighters and paramedics were also called to the scene of the accident. Despite life-saving measures, Hector Maldonado was pronounced dead at the scene.
A full investigation into the Bourne cranberry bog accident remains ongoing at this time.
Leglal Liability for Bourne Cranberry Bog Accidents
Employers in Massachusetts have a legal obligation to protect their workers from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. This includes protecting them from the dangers posed by heavy equipment. According to 29 U.S. Code § 654, “each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees.” Multiple actions should be taken to prevent heavy equipment accidents.
- Training: Employers should provide their workers with adequate training for all of the equipment that they will use. Some equipment will require that workers become certified prior to using it.
- Maintenance: Employers should ensure that all of their equipment is periodically inspected and maintained. Certain pieces of equipment will need to be inspected every day.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Workers should be provided with adequate personal protective equipment when necessary. This can include high-visibility vests, fall protection, and hard hats.
When a worker is injured or killed in Massachusetts, their employer typically cannot be held directly liable for the accident. Most work claims will be adjudicated through the workers’ compensation system. This is a no-fault insurance system designed to help workers and their surviving family members. Injured workers or their family may also pursue damages through a third-party liability claim. A third-party liability claim may be possible if an entity separate from a worker’s employer contributes to the accident.
Third-Party Liability for Massachusetts Cranberry Bog Accidents
Thousands of workers are seriously injured or killed in workplaces across Massachusetts each year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Private industry employers reported 55,400 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in Massachusetts in 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.” These accidents can occur in a variety of different settings and impose liability on many different entities. In particular, there could be numerous sources of third-party liability for any accident in a cranberry bog.
- Property Owner: The company that owns or leases a piece of property could potentially be liable for a workplace accident if they are separate from an employer. Companies have a legal obligation to maintain their worksite in a reasonably safe condition.
- Equipment Manufacturer: The company that manufactured a piece of equipment could face liability if it malfunctioned or was otherwise defective. For example, a piece of equipment may have lacked required safety features like a rollover protection structure.
- Agricultural Consulting Firm: The engineering or agricultural consulting firm that helped set up a cranberry bog could be liable if they created unsafe slope gradients that made heavy equipment more likely to tip over.
It can be difficult to know what to do after any workplace accident. Victims may be left with catastrophic injuries and need to take extensive periods of time away from work. Many victims do not survive their injuries. To make matters worse, the entities that could be responsible for any accident will almost never admit fault. This is why it is so important that these incidents are properly investigated by experienced legal counsel.
Investigating Massachusetts Cranberry Bog Accidents
We at DiBella Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Hector Maldonado. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Many questions remain unanswered at this time. When was the last time that this piece of equipment was maintained? What is the slope gradient at this cranberry bog?
Do you need more information about a Massachusetts cranberry bog accident? Our team of workplace accident investigators is here for you. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular accident, we are here to help. You can reach out to us anytime at (617) 870-0907.