On Sunday, April 7, 2019 at approximately 6:26 P.M., the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a man that was being stung by numerous bees in the 9300 block of East Stetson Street in Yuma.
According to the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, the victim had gone out to his back yard to remove a bee hive from a couch when the bees became agitated and stung the victim. The victim then ran to his front yard where he was located by deputies and Rural Metro personnel covered with bees. Rural Metro sprayed the victim with water to allow first responders to remove the victim from the scene.
The victim, identified as Epigmenio Gonzalez, 51, of Yuma was transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.
A female victim, at the same residence, was also transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center with numerous bee stings.
Several YCSO Deputies and Rural Metro personnel were also stung, however; none required medical attention.