By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – A housekeeping employee at Mt. Graham Regional Medical Center died Jan. 4 while on duty at the hospital.
Maria Chavez was located by a co-worker lying on the floor of the housekeeping annex building at about 3:30 a.m.
Chavez was quickly taken to the Emergency Room but lifesaving efforts were not successful and she was pronounced deceased at 4:26 a.m.
According to a Safford Police report, the co-worker last spoke to Chavez between 12:30 and 1 a.m., in which Chavez complained of having chills and that her back and arms were sore. The pair talked about Chavez possibly having come down with the flu and Chavez said she was also feeling fatigued.
An autopsy was scheduled for Jan. 5 to determine the cause of death.
This article has been updated to change the last name of the deceased to Chavez from Sanchez as was listed in police reports and corroborated by the hospital.
