AUSTIN, Texas — A judge has ordered Tesla to preserve evidence related to a recent death at the Gigafactory in Austin.
Documents obtained by KVUE show a temporary restraining order was granted to stop Tesla from destroying or altering evidence related to a worker's death, including surveillance video and an electrical panel.
The family of Victor Gomez Sr. filed a wrongful death lawsuit asking for $1 million, claiming Gomez died on Aug. 1 after being electrocuted.
A hearing on the lawsuit was scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 15, but has now been pushed back.
What happened at Tesla?
Gomez was an employee with Belcan, which contracts workers to companies like Tesla.
The lawsuit states Gomez, a licensed electrician from Pleasanton, Texas, was told to inspect electrical panels before they were energized.
However, the lawsuit claims one of the panels already had power and immediately electrocuted Gomez, leaving him unconscious. Austin-Travis County EMS took Gomez to Dell Seton Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Representatives for Gomez said experts were hired to inspect Tesla before any evidence was repaired or altered. They also asked that the panel and surveillance footage be preserved.
While an official cause of death for Gomez has yet to be determined, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) opened an investigation into the incident. OSHA said it won't release more details until it finishes its investigation.