Family remembering young father killed at work after warehouse roof collapsed on him

PHOENIX (KPHO/Gray News) - An Arizona family is remembering their loved one who died in a tragic accident while working at a warehouse last week.

The Montoya family shared a video of Oswaldo Montoya, 22, with his new baby that was filmed just a couple of weeks ago.

Sadly, it’s a moment that won’t happen again.

“He was a very loving, caring brother and son, always caring for my mom,” Judith Montoya, his sister, said.

She described her brother as a kind, big-hearted young man who had a great sense of humor.

Judith Montoya said he had taken the warehouse job in the Phoenix area last December to help support his girlfriend and their new baby.

But last Wednesday, the family got a call that he was missing.

A 77-mph microburst hit the warehouse, causing the roof to cave in.

“I went crazy,” Judith Montoya said. “I just wanted to go in there and bring him out. I don’t know, just wanted to revive him. There were a lot of emotions.”

First responders worked around the clock, removing thousands of pounds of concrete to try to find Oswaldo Montoya for several days.

Family and friends said they never gave up hope they’d find him, and he’d be OK.

“Maybe he’s stuck somewhere safe,” Judith Montoya said. “Maybe something is covering him. We had hope that he was there, maybe he ran somewhere safe.”

However, over the weekend the family got the news they didn’t want to hear: Oswaldo Montoya’s body was found.

“It’s something you never want to hear. You never want anybody you love to be gone,” Judith Montoya said.

The sister said the pain of losing her brother has been made even worse, knowing his son will now grow up without a father.

“It’s the hardest thing to not see him become that father, see him with his son,” Judith Montoya said. “I know he would be a great father because he was already showing it.”

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