Chalk Up Another Notch For Sulfuric Acid

In the most horrific story I read all week, a man was discovered (by his father, no less) drowned in a vat of a sulfuric acid solution with roughly the same level of acidity as stomach acid.

Here are the relevant bits of the story, the ones which leave many questions unanswered and demonstrate the total failure of mainstream journalism to actually investigate and not just report.

An 18-year-old man found dead in a vat of acidic solution at the Redwood City factory where he worked died of accidental drowning, the San Mateo County coroner said today.
Fernando Jimenez Gonzalez drowned in a vat of a "low-concentration sulfuric acid solution," Deputy Coroner Michelle Rippy said. Toxicology tests showed no drugs or alcohol in his system.

So we have a young man who works in this facility who fails to come home from work. His dad goes out to find him and eventually checks the workplace, as they both work there. He finds his son drowned and probably beginning to digest inside a vat. How did he get there, one wonders? He could have stumbled in, but why wouldn't he just climb back out? Or tread acid?

The solution in which Gonzalez drowned was 93 percent water and 7 percent sulfuric acid, according to the coroner's office. Its acidity was roughly the same as stomach acid. The solution is used during the production of circuit boards.

Police suspect Gonzalez fell into the waist-high vat of sulfuric acid after being overcome by chemical fumes. A spokesman for the company said the solution does not produce noxious fumes.

So the police suspect that the victim was overcome by fumes that don't exist, causing him to fall into the vat. Way to go, cops. I hear they have their top imaginary friends investigating the case, and plans are underway to utilize all best intentions available to the Department.


"Hey, whiny punk-ass," you might be tempted to ask, "if you're going to bitch about public servants who put their lives on the line to protect you while you sleep, why don't YOU investigate this? If you've somehow deemed it worthy of taxpayer's money and police time, then why not check it out yourself? Look into Gonzales's past, talk to the father, find out who works at and runs Coastal Circuits, talk to Gonzales's friends, and see if anyone could have been in the area around the time of the drowning?"

Because I have studying to do, that's why. T'ain't my problem. My name's Paul and this is betwixt y'all. Besides, the San Mateo County Coroner already ruled that poor Fernando died of accidental causes. And I'm sorry, but Fuck You, The Chronicle - your article was almost identical to the original coverage of the story. At least the Mercury-News included new information. All you did was tag on the coroner bit.

Whenever I encounter bad reporting I consider myself lucky to be able to recognize it. I am immensely grateful for the time I spent at the OC Weekly working with the finest reporter I've ever met - R. Scott Moxley. The man taught me to look past the headlines and home in on everything the newspapers neglect to tell you.

I emailed Scott the story along with cheeky commentary. Scott emailed back, "Mob?" I said no; more likely it's elderly cannibals. You know, people who need their meat a bit pre-digested.

Easier to gum down, easier to pass out.

Now to my legal studies. This should be interesting - CHAPTER 4: The Determination of Unreasonableness. My life may never be the same.

Rest in Peace, Fernando