Temecula Construction Worker Killed In Industrial Accident

CATHEDRAL CITY, CA — A 41-year-old construction worker from Temecula was killed in an industrial accident Monday at Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City, officials reported.

Jay Ayers died at the scene following the 5:20 a.m. accident at the recently opened casino on E. Palm Canyon Drive, according to the Riverside County Sheriff-Coroner's Bureau.

"We received a call of an industrial accident on the casino property resulting in the unfortunate death of an employee," according to a statement from Cathedral City police Cmdr. Julio Luna. "We are in the process of completing our investigation."

Ayers worked for the Raymond Group, a sub-contractor of the Penta Building Group, according to an emailed statement from Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City.

Emergency responders were called immediately, the statement said.

“We work extremely hard to prevent a day like this,” said John Cannito, president of Nevada-based Penta Building Group. “We are doing everything we can to support the family.”

Details of the accident were not released. The incident was being investigated by the Cathedral City Police Department and the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Department of Workplace Safety, according to coroner's officials.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and colleagues at this extremely difficult time," Tribal Chairman Jeff Grubbe said.

Counseling services are being made available to workers, the emailed statement from Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City said.

The casino, which opened last week in time for Thanksgiving, is one of three owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in the Coachella Valley; the others are in Palm Springs and Rancho Mirage.