-Jasmine Dyer-
Cousins!
An UPS driver tragically died after he collapsed in his vehicle from an apparent heat stroke while delivering packages in Southern California!
On Saturday, Esteban Chaves Jr. – also known as “Stevie” or “Lil’ Stevie” – of Downey, Ca. was delivering his final package in the Pasadena area when he collapsed in his UPS truck, barely a day after he turned 24 years old. His family believes he died from a suspected heat stroke due to temperatures reaching the upper 90s that day, according to People Magazine.
Esteban was unconscious for about 20 minutes before someone noticed and called 911.
“He collapsed off his seat in the truck,” the man’s father, Esteban Chaves Sr., told the outlet. “By the time anyone realized it, which was the owner of the house where he delivered the package to, and that was about 20 minutes after my son already collapsed.
According to his dad, Chavez Jr. had worked for UPS for four years and had just returned to work after healing from a shoulder injury the day of his birthday. His family said Esteban loved his job; he even hoped to eventually become a supervisor.
“He was determined to keep going and keep growing into becoming more than a driver, maybe a supervisor one day he said,” said his aunt Gloria Chavez.
The coroner’s office has not yet released the official cause of his death. However, they are still working to identify Esteban’s death.
Esteban’s family strongly believes his death results from dehydration and encourages people to stay hydrated, especially when working in high temperatures.
“If this could bring awareness to his line of work, to the other drivers out there, just making sure you’re staying hydrated,” Chavez Sr. advised. “This is all so sudden,” said Chavez Sr. “It hurts a lot. But I like to think God had a calling for him. They say the good die young. I’m sure my son was one of them.”
A GoFundMe page has since been set up by a family member to assist with funeral costs. UPS released the following statement regarding the death of Chavez Jr.:
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our driver Esteban Chavez, and extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends. We are cooperating with the investigating authorities and are respectfully deferring questions about this incident to them.”