Caiden Gibson's "loss has left so many of us shocked and heartbroken," a GoFundMe organizer wrote
Credit: GoFundMe
NEED TO KNOW
- City officials in Albany announced the May 27 death of Caiden Gibson, 20, an apprentice lineman, following an accident
- No specific details were offered about the nature of the accident, which the city is investigating
- Two public works employees with the city died in 2024
A 20-year-old lineman in Georgia has died following an accident, leaving behind a wife and son.
City officials in Albany announced the death of Caiden Gibson, an apprentice lineman for the city's utility operations department.
“It is with a heavy heart that the City of Albany announces the passing of one of our own,” the news release read. “On Wednesday, May 27, 2026, 20-year-old Caiden Gibson, an apprentice lineman, passed away following an accident.”
“We have been providing support to Mr. Gibson's family,” officials continued, going on to describe him as a “dedicated employee.”
The city did not specify the nature of the accident, other than to say it is investigating what happened. However, city leaders said he died while on the job, ABC affiliate WSB reported.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Gibson's loved ones, family, friends, and co-workers,” the city's statement concluded.
Gibson was born in Albany, according to his obituary, and was called “a hard-working young man.”
“He enjoyed hunting, especially duck hunting and loved the outdoors. He greatly enjoyed riding ATVs with his wife and friends and adored his little boy,” the memorial tribute read.
A GoFundMe was created to help Gibson's family. Over $20,000 has been raised as of Friday, May 29.
“Caiden was the kind of person you could always count on. He was a hardworking lineman, a loyal friend, and someone who brought strength, laughter, and heart everywhere he went,” the GoFundMe organizer wrote in the fundraiser description. “To know him was to love him. His loss has left so many of us shocked and heartbroken.”
“Rest easy, brother. You will never be forgotten. Forever Pole Dancing in the stars,” Bruner later concluded.
Gibson's death comes after two Albany employees died while working on the job in the last two years, WALB reported.
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Darrious Stephens, 36, a public works employee, drowned on Feb. 12, 2024, while gathering water samples from the Flint River amid a rainstorm, according to the outlet.
Then, on Dec. 18 that same year, public works employee Sebastian Dykes Jr., 28, died after a trench wall collapsed on him.
In an interview with WALB in February 2025, Albany City Manager Terrell Jacobs acknowledged “failures” concerning the two deaths.
“We have had failures in regards to certain areas and the tragedy of failures is sometimes you don't know where you have problems until they happen, and in these two cases it was an egregious issue incident that happened that lost 2 lives,” Jacobs said.
He said at the time that changes would be implemented in the city's safety protocols and training policies beginning in July 2025.
PEOPLE contacted Bruner and city officials on Friday, May 29, but did not receive an immediate response.
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