Mike Olver was killed at the Arizona power plant

BENICIA, California. – Family members of a Benicia man killed while doing business out of state want answers.

They say not knowing what happened to him adds to their sadness.

“He’s only 50 years old. We had a future like this. I know it was going to happen, but it shouldn’t have happened,” Jenny Olver said. She struggles to find answers as to how her husband, Mike Olver, was killed while working as a valve repairman. At a power plant in Arizona.

On the afternoon of Nov. 7, she received notification that her husband had been injured in an accident at the APS Redhawk Power Plant, about an hour west of Phoenix. Only hours later did he learn that he had died.

“I was in absolute disbelief and complete shock that this was happening,” Jenny said. Daughters Fallon and Brianna arrived at the power plant the next morning.

“We hung out outside, walked around the factory. Someone called me to say we were more or less sorry. Lawyers got involved. We can’t talk,” Brianna said. Olver worked at Bay Valve in Benicia.

The company sent him to Arizona Public Service for a ten-day project, family members said.

In its written statement, APS said in part:

“We are deeply saddened by the death of a contractor at the Redhawk Power Plant… An investigation is ongoing. The safety of our crews and customers will always be a top priority for APS.”

“I know he fell. I don’t know why he fell or how he fell. I don’t know what could have been done to prevent it,” Jenny said.

Family members described Olver as an experienced machinist with more than 20 years of experience in the industry. They said he was meticulous about security.

Pointing to the new tattoo he got on his arm in memory of his father, Fallon said, “Here is my father’s signature. His name is written underneath. This was signed the day he died.”

His family shared videos showing Olver working at home and playing with his beloved cat. Brianna said her father was all about barbecue, beer and family.

His favorite holiday was Thanksgiving. The family plans to hold a celebration in his honor.

“We were just starting out as a couple with beautiful, adult daughters and grandchildren. It was time to enjoy our lives,” Jenny said.

APS said the Arizona Occupational Safety and Health Division is conducting an investigation but could not say when it would be completed.

The family plans to hold a celebration of Mike Olver’s life at Veterans Memorial Hall in downtown Benicia on Wednesday, November 20 at 3 p.m.

Amber Lee is a reporter at KTVU. Email Amber at [email protected] or call/leave a message at 510-599-3922. Follow her on Facebook @AmberKTVU, Instagram @AmberKTVU or Twitter @AmberKTVU