SANGER, Calif. (KMPH) -
A freak accident, a chemical leak killed a man in a Fresno County winery.
Now his family is asking how it happened.
28-year-old Robert Munoz died after he was exposed to ammonia, while working at Gibson winery in Sanger.
Family members say they still have so many questions surrounding Robert's death, and are upset that the winery has not reached out to them at all.
"Everyone will always remember his happy face, it's going to be hard not to see or hear him," said Maira Cruz, Munoz's sister.
Munoz worked at Gibson winery, on and off, since 2004.
His duties included cleaning tanks and transferring chemicals to the wine.
But he was on the clock for barely an hour Tuesday - when he was overcome by ammonia.
"They said he was there for 15 minutes in the bathroom, and nobody could get him out," said Yuliana Correa, Munoz's girlfriend.
She says an employee who knows the family called and told them there was an accidental ammonia leak, and Robert didn't make it.
"That's one of the stories they gave us, that there was a leakage, then there was an explosion, then we had a coworker who worked with him that night, that explained to us that somebody opened a wrong valve," said Correa.
Ammonia is often used for agricultural purposes, and as a cleaner. It is a colorless gas with a pungent, suffocating odor.
Emergency officials told Robert's mother - it happened quickly.
"They told her not to worry, that my brother didn't suffer, that he died instantly," said Cruz.
The chairman of Gibson Wine Company, where the accident happened, says it is a small company, they only employ about 21 people, so everyone is like family. And employees are taking Robert's death, pretty hard.
"The immediate supervisor is getting medical attention for stress, and the other employees are taking it hard, we had a very tense day today," said Leland Herman, chairman of Gibson Wine Company.
Herman says one employee was so traumatized by the experience, he quit.
"Our heart goes out to the family, they have our greatest sympathy," said Herman.
But family members say they have yet to receive a phone call from the winery.
"Step up, face all this, because it was their fault," said Cruz.
His sisters and girlfriend are left to wonder if anyone will be held responsible for Robert's death.
In the meantime - they're cherishing what he left behind and the happy times, they didn't know, would be his last.
"I just want to know what exactly happened. What mistake was made?" said Correa.
Munoz was placed at the winery by a temp agency and had just begun working there again in August.
Family members say that agency has contacted them to offer their condolences, and is helping pay for Robert's funeral expenses.
Robert's death is still being investigated by Cal-OSHA.
Robert's friends and family will be holding fundraisers this weekend to raise money for funeral expenses.
They'll be holding a Zumba class and car wash Saturday morning, at the Sanger Youth Center.
