Family is still waiting for answers after 37-year-old died in work accident

SALT LAKE CITY – Nearly a month later, the family of a man killed in an industrial accident is still waiting for responses.

On October 25, 37-year-old Christopher Kilpack died while working at a construction site near 3600 South and 500 West in South Salt Lake.

‘How exactly did it happen? In what way? Is what I am being told the truth? Did it really happen that way or was it something else?’ said Mary Babinchak, Kilpack’s sister.

Family members are in shock.

“We just thought maybe they were wrong, maybe he was okay, we had to have sheriffs come and explain to my mother that my brother had died because she didn’t want to believe it had happened,” Babinchak said.

Kilpack is survived by two daughters and seven siblings.

“He was the heart of the family, so it was very sad. It was almost like you couldn’t breathe, you couldn’t get air,” Babinchak said.

South Salt Lake police said Kilpack was securing logs when a strap was removed from the load and a large log that had previously been secured fell on him.

“He got out of the vehicle, a 2,000-pound log came out when he loosened the strap, then hit him in the head and landed on top of him and killed him,” Babinchak said.

Babinchak said her brother’s employer and the company where the incident occurred provided no assistance.

“(He) worked for South Valley Tree and when they were unloading the load of trees, he was on the Diamond Tree Service property,” Babinchak said.

FOX 13 News has called and emailed both companies but has not heard back.

“I feel like we’ve lost the most important thing to us and no one cares. We are waiting to hear from the OSHA investigation to find out exactly what happened, if anyone is at fault, if there is a safety issue,” Babinchak said.

Utah OSHA confirmed the investigation is currently ongoing.

As Kilpack’s family continues to wait for answers, they remember how special he was.

“If you needed to laugh, he made you laugh. If you needed someone to talk to, he was there. He would give you anything, including the shirt off his back,” Babinchak said.

As they mourn the tragic loss, they remind people that tomorrow is not promised.

“Don’t forget to tell the people you love that you love them. Make sure they know — it makes a big difference,” Babinchak said.