Man Falls To Death From KPFA Tower

Accident On Tower

A man fell from the tower of PACIFICA noncommercial Variety KPFA/BERKELEY-SAN FRANCISCO to his death on THANKSGIVING morning, reports the BERKELEY DAILY PLANET. STEVEN TASSELL, 25, of ANTIOCH, CA was found by station engineer STEVE HAWES after the victim had fallen through the roof of the station's transmitter building beneath the 300 foot tower on GRIZZLY PEAK. A text message sent from the victim set the time of death at about 4:30a (PT).

Chief Engineer MICHAEL YOSHIDA told the PLANET that he did not think sabotage was involved, noting that TASSEL was without climbing equipment. TASSELL's mother TONI TASSELL told the OAKLAND TRIBUNE that she thinks "he was just out there enjoying the view," and was a nature lover who was likely stargazing from the tower.

The station has been embroiled in controversy over layoffs, with several protests; despite the incident, the station remained on the air throughout the weekend.

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