Tragedy struck at Peet’s Coffee distribution center in Oakland early Friday morning when a portion of the warehouse roof collapsed, killing a longtime employee and injuring another.
The victim, a distribution leader, was located in an office area when the roof caved in.
He had been with Peet’s for 15 years and was described as a beloved member of the company family.
The incident occurred during a storm, and investigators are trying to determine the cause of the collapse.
The building had been red-tagged by the city of Oakland’s virtual engineer as part of a preliminary investigation.
Oakland Fire Department battalion chief Christopher Foley called the incident rare given the typical construction of the building.
The distribution center will remain closed while the investigation continues.
Peet’s Coffee spokesperson Mary O’Connell expressed her sadness over the loss of the employee and said that everyone at the company was shaken by the tragedy.
