BALTIMORE (AP) — The family of a Baltimore man who died of heatstroke while collecting trash for the city’s public works agency is demanding increased transparency from local officials following his death. The relatives held a news conference Monday and called on the Baltimore City Council to conduct a series of investigative hearings and shed light on how the otherwise healthy Ronald Silver II succumbed to heat-related illness at work. “Ronnie Silver’s death is an absolutely preventable tragedy.
It should never have happened,” said Thiru Vignarajah, an attorney representing the family. “And it was only because of a failure to respect the basic dignity and humanity of a trashman that this family had to hold funeral services for Ronnie Silver II on Friday.” A copy of Silver’s offer letter from the Baltimore Department of Public Works shows he started the job last fall and was making about $18 an hour.
Vignarajah said the letter was a source of pride for Silver, who was working to help support his five children and fiancée. Silver, 36, died Aug. 2 as temperatures in the Baltimore area climbed to about 100 degrees (38 Celsius) and city officials issued a Code Red heat advisory.
Local media outlets reported that Silver rang the doorbell of a northeast Baltimore resident that afternoon asking for help. The person who answered the door called 911 on his behalf. Department of Public Works officials have declined to answer questions about the events leading up to Si.