OSHA Investigating Fatal Accident After Arsenio Da Cruz Pina Became Pinned By Semi-Truck at Chatham Village Foods Warehouse Facility
WAREHAM, MASSACHUSETTS (August 10, 2026) – A worker identified as Arsenio Pina has tragically died in a Wareham semi-truck accident at the Chatham Village Foods warehouse facility.
Plymouth County officials are saying that the accident occurred around 9:43 a.m. on Wednesday. Arsenio Pina was reportedly pinned by a tractor-trailer truck behind a loading dock.
EMS was called to the scene of the collision at Chatham Village Foods to help the injured victim. Unfortunately, he was beyond medical aid and pronounced dead at the scene.
The MSP Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section is currently investigating the circumstances leading up to the crash. You can help support the family of the victim through GoFundMe.
According to the online fundraiser, “On Wednesday, our lives changed forever. We unexpectedly lost our beloved father, Arsenio Da Cruz Pina, in a tragic work accident involving a trailer truck. My siblings and I are still trying to process the fact that our father went to work and never came back home. He was a hardworking and loving man who did everything he could for his children and family.”
DiBella Law remains committed to improving public safety and increasing transparency through our Free Police Report program. If you’ve been involved in any type of accident that required a police response, we can help you get a copy of the police report created at no cost or obligation to you.
Liability for Wareham Semi-Truck Accidents
Massachusetts negligence laws require all drivers to operate their vehicles with the care and skill necessary to avoid foreseeable sources of harm. This is particularly important for commercial truck drivers who are held to a high safety standard. They are required to undergo specialized training and must operate with an abundance of caution to avoid colliding with any vehicle or pedestrian that they encounter. At any workplace, the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s General Duty Clause, 29 U.S.C. § 654(a)(1) requires that employers provide their workers with a safe environment that is free from recognized hazards. Most workplace claims in Massachusetts are adjudicated through the workers’ compensation system. But there are also several sources of third-party liability in any semi-truck accident.
- General Contractor: A general contractor could be liable for a truck accident if they failed to maintain a worksite in a reasonably safe condition. This may include situations where they fail to develop and enforce worksite traffic controls.
- Trucking Company: Trucking companies are typically separate entities from any company that employed workers at a warehouse. They could be vicariously liable for an accident if their worker acted negligently.
- Truck Carrier: A truck carrier could bear some level of responsibility for a truck collision if they chose to work with a company that had a history of safety violations.
Truck accidents tend to be highly complex events and involve liability on several different parties. Consider, for example, Commonwealth v. Angelo Todesca Corp., 446 Mass. 128 (Mass. 2006). In that case, a truck backing through a worksite struck and killed a police officer. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held that there was sufficient evidence put forth to support a negligence claim. In particular, the truck involved in the accident lacked a functional backup alarm, which was required by the company’s safety policy.
Preventing Massachusetts Truck Accidents
Loading docks remain a very dangerous location for workers, particularly when safety regulations are not being followed. Many workers are killed in preventable accidents each year involving commercial trucks. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, an estimated 369 workers were killed in pedestrian accidents involving motor vehicles in 2024. This was a 19% increase from the previous year. Employers should take several measures to prevent semi-truck accidents.
- Separation: Employers should separate pedestrians from commercial trucks when possible. This can include installing barriers and creating restricted backing zones.
- Backing Procedures: Employers should establish and enforce clear backing procedures. This may involve having one worker act as a spotter when trucks need to back up.
- Alarms: Employers should ensure that trucks have backup alarms that can alert nearby pedestrians of their presence.
Backup accidents are nearly always preventable. In many cases, they involve workers that were not checking their blind spots or following established safety protocols. Commercial trucks have enormous blind spots, which can make them especially dangerous when backing up. The family of any person who died in a workplace truck accident may be able to pursue accountability through a wrongful death claim. There is, however, a statute of limitations associated with civil claims. Failing to act within the statute of limitations can result in a permanent forfeiture of your rights.
Investigating Wareham Semi-Truck Accidents
We at DiBella Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Arsenio Pina who died at the Chatham Village Foods warehouse. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. It is our sincere hope that the pending investigation will reveal any safety shortcomings so that they can be addressed and remedied.
Do you need more information about a Wareham semi-truck accident? Are you concerned that the accident site may have lacked adequate safety protections for workers? Our team of workplace safety advocates is here to assist you. We understand how difficult it can be to get information about any workplace accident. Whether you just have legal questions or would like a free investigation into any particular collision, we are here to support you. You can contact us anytime at (855) 649-2674.