HILLSBORO, TEXAS — A 21-year-old lineman apprentice from Texas who gave up college scholarships to stay home and support his family after losing his father at 16 was killed last Friday when an electrical arc flash occurred while he was working on power lines in a bucket truck. More than $40,000 has been raised for his mother since his death.
Fort Worth firefighters responded that afternoon to a report of a possible electrocution involving two linemen. Ryan Vargas and his co-worker were both transported to an area hospital in critical condition. Vargas did not survive his injuries.
Those who worked alongside him described a young man who was as dedicated as he was kind. Co-workers Chris Ritzer and Trey Lopez said Vargas was a close friend and a standout in the industry.
“We were just bragging about him. The day that it happened, we were talking to somebody else in the industry,” Ritzer said. “I was just bragging about him and what a quality individual and worker he was.”
Lopez added: “He was a good person, a good friend, and he was going to be a great lineman. He was smart and he got it.”
Vargas was an only child. In high school, he earned scholarships that could have taken him anywhere. But after his father died, he chose a different path. “He chose to stay home and go to work so he could take care of his family,” Ritzer said. His mother, now without her son, told Ritzer after the tragedy: “That’s my baby.”
Friends say they want Vargas remembered for his humor, his kindness, and the future he was building. “He built his own legacy. Nobody is going to forget him and nobody has anything ill to say about him,” Ritzer said.
Since Vargas’ death, Ritzer created a GoFundMe to help support his mother and cover funeral costs. The page has raised more than $40,000, with donations coming in from across the country and support from other line industry foundations.
“It’s really nice to see the community and everybody come together. We’ve got donations from all over the place. It’s a blessing,” Ritzer said.
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