Update: A 29-year-old Port Arthur woman has been identified as the contract worker killed Friday morning at the Golden Triangle Polymers construction site in Orange County. Yukiko Nakao, 29, of Port Arthur, was identified as the contract worker who was killed, Capt. Joey Jacob of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office reported Monday morning. Orange County deputies and OSHA are investigating the Friday morning death of Nakao at the Golden Triangle Polymers construction site in Orange County. Investigators are continuing to work to determine exactly what occurred leading up to Nakao’s death. They are still interviewing witnesses and taking statements.
Original story:
In a tragic incident at the Golden Triangle Polymers construction site in Orange County, a contract worker lost their life on Friday morning. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), has initiated a thorough investigation to ascertain the circumstances leading to the fatality. Authorities are currently in the process of interviewing witnesses and gathering statements to piece together the events that culminated in this unfortunate loss.
Emergency services rushed to the scene located off Texas Highway 87 near the Orange County Airport around 10 a.m., following reports of the accident. Captain Joey Jacobs, a spokesperson for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, confirmed the death of the contract worker. Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, involved in the construction project, also acknowledged the incident, stating, “We express our deepest sympathies to their family and friends during this difficult time.”
The identity of the deceased is being withheld until the family is duly informed. The official declaration of death was made by Justice of the Peace Joy Dubose-Simonton. As of now, further details about the incident remain scarce.
Chevron Phillips released a statement about the incident: “Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP (Chevron Phillips Chemical) can confirm that an employee of a contractor working at the Golden Triangle Polymers project in Orange County, Texas passed away on Feb. 16 following injuries sustained at the construction site. We express our deepest sympathies to their family and friends during this difficult time.”
The construction site is part of a significant collaboration between Chevron Phillips Chemical and Qatar Energy, with Chevron Phillips holding a 51% stake. The facility is set to produce Marlex polyethylene and is anticipated to commence operations in 2026. The Golden Triangle Polymers project is expected to generate substantial economic benefits for the community, contributing an estimated $50 billion in residual economic impacts over the next two decades.