By Kasper Foley 
As reported by Wireless Estimator
On July 14, 2025, tragedy struck near Sebastopol, Texas, when Calvin Wayne Sellars, a 46-year-old tower technician, fell to his death from an internet tower at the Whispering Pines Golf Course. Sellars, employed by Trace Wireless of Groveton, was reportedly working approximately 50 feet above ground when the fatal incident occurred. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
What has followed since the accident is a troubling narrative of alleged safety negligence and regulatory noncompliance that raises serious questions about accountability in the telecommunications infrastructure industry.
No Immediate OSHA Notification
Federal law mandates that employers report workplace fatalities to OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) within eight hours. However, Sellars’ death was not listed in OSHA’s incident database days after the fall, and OSHA’s Houston North Area Office initially said they were unaware of the incident. Only after being contacted by Wireless Estimator did the agency launch an investigation, confirming that Trace Wireless had failed to report the fatality promptly.
A representative from Trace Wireless allegedly claimed the company was unaware of the federal reporting requirement—an alarming admission from a business operating in a high-risk industry.
Disturbing Culture of Safety Violations
Beyond this fatal incident, a disturbing pattern of safety violations has emerged in connection with Trace Wireless. On the company’s public Facebook page, images and videos glorify unsafe climbing practices. One particularly reckless video shows a technician named Colton free-climbing a tower in shorts and sneakers, with no safety gear, scaling 120 feet in under a minute. The caption praises his speed and dedication, while making no mention of safety protocols.
Other posts show workers without hard hats, improper use of lanyards, and an employee standing on a water tower without personal protective equipment (PPE). One video even shows a climber carrying an antenna tied to him—suggesting inexperience and a lack of proper training.
Such imagery contradicts OSHA’s strict requirement that climbers must be tied off 100% of the time when working six feet or higher above the ground.
Questionable Construction Practices
Safety concerns extend beyond the company’s climbing procedures. Trace Wireless has also faced scrutiny for questionable engineering practices. In one case, a guyed tower appeared to be constructed with minimal engineering oversight. A construction supervisor was shown using a torpedo level on a welded brace to verify vertical alignment—far from the industry standard of using a transit or proper survey equipment.
It remains unclear whether the tower Sellars was working on was owned by Trace Wireless. However, the company has reportedly built multiple structures throughout Trinity County, some of which raise serious structural concerns.
A Pattern of Fatalities in Trinity County
Sellars is the second tower technician to die in Trinity County in less than a year. On November 4, 2024, a Mastec technician fell from a 500-foot Crown Castle tower while working alone, reportedly using a Sawzall to cut heavy telecom wire at approximately 140 feet. That case was also reported by Sheriff Woody Wallace and later closed by OSHA without citations.
A Call for Industry Reform
Calvin Wayne Sellars’ death is a tragic reminder of the dangers faced by tower technicians and the critical need for strict safety oversight. When companies cut corners on training, PPE, and basic structural engineering, the risks don’t just affect workers—they threaten the integrity of the infrastructure they build and maintain.
As OSHA continues its investigation into Trace Wireless, industry observers and safety advocates hope this incident will catalyze change and bring greater accountability to an industry that too often places productivity over protection.
If you are a tower tech, industry worker, or family member impacted by unsafe practices, you can report safety violations anonymously at OSHA.gov.
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