Man killed in Argyle school structure collapse identified

The worker who died Thursday in the collapse of the frame of the new Argyle High School athletic center was identified Monday as Julio Perez Ledesma, 36, by the Tarrant County medical examiner’s office.

The examiner’s office did not give his town of residence, but WFAA has reported that Perez lived in Fort Worth.

Perez was on a lift that came down as the beams of the structure fell. He was pronounced dead at the construction site,

Residents of Argyle and surrounding areas are contributing to support Perez’s children, Argyle Town Manager Paul Frederiksen said. Proceeds from an Easter egg hunt Saturday at the high school will be donated to the family, Frederiksen said.

Also, residents have started an online Go Fund Me project to benefit the family that had raised $18,000 as of 6:30 p.m. Monday, according to the website and Frederiksen.

“This is an effort that speaks to the community’s grief and their desire to do something to help this family,” Frederiksen said.

Three other workers were injured. Two were treated at a hospital and released, and the third was not hospitalized, Argyle School Superintendent Telena Wright said.

At a vigil in memory of Perez on Friday evening, he was described as a “family man,” WFAA reported.

Perez was employed by Warnick Metal Building Erectors. Federal officials are investigating the cause of the collapse.

Voters approved the $3.7 million indoor practice facility, part of a $45 million bond package, in May 2014. Construction started on the activity center about three months ago and was expected to be finished in August, in time for the 2015-16 school year. It will be used primarily for band and athletics.

This report includes material from the Star-Telegram archives

This story was originally published April 6, 2015 at 7:14 PM with the headline "Man killed in Argyle school structure collapse identified."