VICTIM CRUSHED UNDER CONCRETE WAS 18-YEAR-OLD FROM LAKESIDE

February 27, 2011 (Lakeside) – Matthew Christopher Mitchell, 18, of Lakeside has been identified by the San Diego County Medical Examiner’s office as the person found crushed to death Thursday at a commercial property in Lakeside. 

“He had a lot of family that adored him,” his mother, Lisa Mitchell, told the San Diego Union-Tribune. She said her son was in the process of getting his GED diploma through the Poway Unified School District.

Mitchell had been staying at his stepmother's house in Lakeside, but walked out Thursday after having some personal problems, according to his mother. He met a transient who offered to show him a campsite at the property.

10 News reported that an 800-pound piece of concrete shoring fell on Mitchell. Authorities have indicated that a transient who came back to check on Mitchell found him crushed under the fallen concrete and called 911. Death was confirmed at the scene.

It is unknown what made the concrete fall. Some have speculated that Mitchell could have tried to move a piece of concrete to create a shelter on one of the coldest nights of the year.  

Neither the County nor the community of Lakeside, nor any cities in East County operate a permanent or winter homeless shelter, leaving people on the streets at the mercy of the elements or the charity of faith-based organizations.  The Regional Taskforce on Homelessness' annual Point in Time Count, conducted on January 28, 2011, lists 99 homeless people in Lakeside. 

"Unfortunately, tragedies like this occur due to the lack of housing and services for the homeless. It is very sad to learn of this death, and we hope that there are more beds and housing for the homeless, so this doesn't happen again in the future," said Brian Maienschein, commissioner of the countywide Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. "We believe there needs to be a sufficient supply of permanent housing throughout the entire region, including East County."

Mitchell is survived by his father, Christopher Mitchell, his half-sister, Kelsey Mitchell, and half-brother, Kyle Mitchell. Services are being planned at Maranatha Chapel in San Diego.
 

 Update March 16, 2011 -- An earlier version of this story stated that the body was found at Anderson Drilling, based on the address provided on both the Sheriff's press release and the Medical Examiner's website.  The Sheriff also held a press conference at the Anderson Drilling site and advised other media that the body was at Anderson Drilling. The president of Anderson drilling, Dan Cadenhead, has notified ECM that the body was in fact found at an adjacent trucking company and storage yard site next door. The Medical Examiner has now corrected the location listed on the death certificate, which is now stated as 10329 Channel Road, the address of Bill Signs Trucking, not Anderson Drilling.  Other media reported the Anderson location and at least one other outlet has since issued a correction. We regret the confusion.

"Anderson Drilling has been heavily involved in East County community activities for many years; this includes multiple events at the Lakeside rodeo grounds, El Capitan HS 4H, the Lakeside River Park efforts, the Alpine Challenge bicycle event, and numerous others," says Cadenhead. "We also are known as one of the leaders in the Drilled Shaft Foundation industry with our safety efforts!"  The company's website states that in  addition to numerous commendations from General Contractors, Anderson has also received the Safety Award for industry contractors working more than 100,000 hours, and the International Association of Foundation Drilling (ADSC-IAFD) Most Improved Safety Program Award.