Letter carrier who died in North Texas identified as USPS investigates what happened
The United States Postal Service said it's investigating how a postal worker died on Monday in Little Elm.
A spokesperson with the Little Elm Fire Department said they responded to an incident involving a postal vehicle near the 1600 block of Thornhill Lane around 2 p.m. Members of the department administered CPR, but the postal worker didn't survive.
The USPS confirmed the employee's death, saying, "The postal service said it is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of a postal family member on July 20. Our thoughts are with their family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time".
The postal service said it's providing counseling services to employees at the Little Elm Main Post Office. The agency would not say if the death was heat-related and did not identify the victim, but added that they are investigating the incident.
On Thursday, the National Rural Letter Carriers' Association (NRLCA) identified the carrier as 58-year-old Umeshkumar Thakkar, who had been a part-time carrier since 2022.
"The safety and well-being of every postal employee must remain the highest priority. As temperatures continue to reach dangerous levels across much of the country, the NRLCA urges all rural letter carriers to remain vigilant, follow established heat safety protocols, stay hydrated, recognize the signs of heat-related illness, and look out for one another," NRLCA President Don Maston said in a statement.
The NRLCS said it "stands in solidarity with Mr. Thakkar's loved ones and the entire postal community during this difficult time and will continue to monitor the investigation."
"Obviously, we're very deeply troubled by it," Maston said.
Neighbors shaken by letter carrier's death
On Wednesday, Little Elm residents who spoke with CBS News Texas said they were shaken by the news.
"Like, a whole bunch of cop cars and the ambulance was there, a fire truck, and then we saw the mail truck, but we didn't think anything of it, so we didn't really know what was happening," Rustyn Owen, who lives down the block, told CBS News Texas.
"It's really sad, like everything, like we literally just saw his truck. That's awful," said her sister Emersyn Owen.
"It's very heartbreaking," said Cathy Sagal. "It's really sad."
"I come from the desert, so I'm a big proponent of frequent breaks for those who do work in the heat, construction and stuff, and for any of the delivery drivers," said neighbor Susan Houce.
Kimetra Lewis, the president of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 132, who does not represent the employee, said she hopes this incident brings more attention to working conditions for postal workers.
"Watch them. If you're home, and you see, and you know you have a routine time for your letter carrier to come and make his delivery or her deliveries, if you don't see them there, if they're not there at the normal time, look out for them," Lewis said. "Make sure that if you're able to, provide them with some water."
