Widow needs help to cover funeral costs

The fatal accident on the new Oak Island bridge two weeks ago was bad enough, now construction worker Jose Montalvo’s widow is struggling for help.

Maria Sanchez has thousands of dollars in funeral expenses, and is planning to send her husband’s body to Mexico tomorrow.

However, her attorney said Lee Construction, the company for which Montalvo worked, refuses to help pay.

Montalvo’s funeral cost $13,000 and workman’s comp only covered $3,500.

Attorney Eric Altman represents Maria Sanchez, who has three kids. He said he was told today by Lee’s attorney that Lee won’t help cover funeral expenses, or the more than $800 it will cost to return Montalvo’s body to Mexico.

The funeral director says he will send the body tomorrow in good faith that he’ll be reimbursed.

Altman said Montalvo had no life insurance and his widow has received some donations, but they still have a long way to go.

Mr. Altman said, “There’s a deficit of about $9,500 that we need to pay. I don’t want to ask her to use the donations she’s received to pay that because she needs that money for other things.”

Maria Sanchez has no form of income right now and it’ll be weeks before she starts to receive workman’s comp benefits.

Altman is collecting donations for Sanchez at his office. Please send donations to…
Maria Sanchez
c/o Altman Law Firm
1107 New Pointe Blvd., Unit 8
Leland, NC 28451
910.371.5933