Rural carrier dies in Fresno after getting into altercation during work

FRESNO, California – The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a mail carrier.

Officials tell us 63-year-old Fernando Santoya was delivering mail in the 700 block of South Polk Avenue Tuesday afternoon when he got into an altercation with a group of men who were working on a house.

The group of men were hired to perform work on the home, officials say.

The sheriff’s office says one of the workers had parked his vehicle in front of the mailbox, so he moved it once the mail carrier arrived. Witnesses told detectives Santoya got into an argument with the work crew, which then escalated into Santoya trying to punch one of the men.

Deputies say in an effort to defend himself, the man punched back, striking Santoya in his face. He then stumbled and collapsed.

The workers noticed he was not breathing and began CPR. Santoya was taken to the hospital where he later died.

Detectives say all witnesses on the scene were cooperative, and no arrests have been made.

Officials say a cause of death is pending the results of toxicology tests.

Santoya is a United States Postal Service (USPS) employee who worked as a rural route mail carrier.

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