TX Man José Luis ‘Joe’ Bautista Jr ID’d As Victim In Friday SpaceX Starbase Fatal Fall

STARBASE, TX. (THECOUNT) — José Luis “Joe” Bautista Jr., 25, of Donna, Texas, died after falling from a scaffold Friday at the SpaceX Starbase facility in Cameron County, according to officials.

The fatal workplace incident occurred Friday, May 15, at the Starbase launch and production complex near Boca Chica in far South Texas.

According to Cameron County officials, Bautista fell approximately eight feet from a scaffold while working at the SpaceX site.

Cameron County Sheriff’s Office officials first confirmed the death following the incident.

Justice of the Peace Mary Esther Sorola identified the victim as Joe Bautista of Donna.

Social media postings identified the victim as José Luis Bautista Jr.

Authorities said Bautista sustained severe injuries in the fall and was transported from the scene by a SpaceX ambulance to Valley Regional Medical Center.

Officials confirmed Bautista later died at the hospital.

A preliminary autopsy report determined Bautista suffered blunt force trauma injuries as a result of the fall, according to Sorola.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched an investigation into the workplace fatality.

OSHA officials stated the agency is “investigating the incident at Starbase,” adding that additional details are expected once the investigation is completed.

Neither SpaceX nor Starbase officials publicly released additional details regarding the circumstances leading up to the fall.

Starbase issued a statement extending condolences to Bautista’s family and loved ones.

In the statement, city officials said SpaceX operational and workplace matters are outside the city’s authority and referred questions to SpaceX, the contracting company involved, and investigating agencies.

The incident prompted an emergency response Friday involving medical personnel, workplace safety officials, and law enforcement officers at the sprawling Starbase complex.

Authorities have not publicly stated whether Bautista was employed directly by SpaceX or by a contractor working at the facility.

Investigators have also not released information regarding safety equipment, scaffold conditions, or other potential contributing factors.

Starbase, operated by :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}, serves as the company’s primary testing and launch facility for its Starship spacecraft program.

The OSHA investigation remains active.

No further information has been released at this time.

Google Maps: SpaceX Starbase, Boca Chica, Texas

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