By Lana Groves
The Deseret News
SARATOGA SPRINGS, Utah — The one thing Octavio Lacayo wishes he had told his 30-year-old brother the night before he died was, “I love you.” Now it’s too late as Lacayo’s brother, Mauricio, died Tuesday after an apparent chemical accident at his job.
Mauricio Lacayo was taken to American Fork Hospital about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday after being exposed to a selenium-based amino acid called selenomethionine, which is believed to be helpful in treating cancer, hospital officials and police reported. Lacayo was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
Lacayo had been at work at Sabinsa Corp. in Payson when he opened a bag and the powder inside puffed into his face, according to the man’s brother, Octavio Lacayo. Mauricio Lacayo began feeling sick, so his wife picked him up from work and took him to their Saratoga Springs home, Octavio Lacayo said.
Mauricio Lacayo soon began vomiting and was taken to the Intermountain Healthcare clinic at 354 W. state Route 73. Mauricio Lacayo told clinic personnel when he arrived that he may have been exposed to a chemical, Rosen said.
He was then transported by ambulance to American Fork Hospital.
“They began treatment, but he went into cardiac arrest and passed away sometime between 3 and 4 in the afternoon,” said Janet Frank, Intermountain Healthcare spokeswoman for Utah County.
The Lacayo home on Goldenrod Way near 1700 North and 1100 West was quarantined, along with the Intermountain clinic. The quarantine on the house was lifted at about 10:30 p.m. About 24 clinic employees and patients were placed under quarantine, and eight employees underwent decontamination. Quarantine at the clinic was lifted about 8 p.m. and the eight employees were taken to American Fork Hospital for final medical clearance, Frank said. Police said Lacayo family members were being monitored for any change in health.
Octavio Lacayo, 36, said his brother leaves behind a wife, Yolanda, and three children, ages 6, 2 and 8 months. He described Mauricio as a “good guy” who was “always willing to help anyone out.” He said his brother wanted to become a paramedic and had volunteered for the Eagle Mountain Police Department.
“What hurts the most is to see him go, as far as I’m concerned, way before his time,” he said.
Octavio said he and his daughter spent the weekend with Mauricio and his family, and they got together Monday night at the home of another brother in Springville.
“I wish last night I would have told him I love him,” he said Tuesday.
Family said that Yolanda Lacayo was given sedatives to “calm down and sleep.”
“She’s having a hard time,” Octavio said. “I think she’s still in denial.”
Hazmat crews from Orem, Lehi and Camp Williams were on the scene to assist in the investigation. According to Sabinsa’s Web site, the company develops and patents phytonutrients -- bioactive components from plants believed to have health benefits -- for the world market. The company says on its Web site that it recently received a product merit award by Nutrition Business Journal for its branded L - (+) - Selenomethionine compound, Selenium SeLECT. Efforts to contact a company spokesperson on Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Copyright 2010 The Deseret News Publishing Co.