A U.S. Postal Service employee died Monday afternoon while on duty in Little Elm as North Texas remained under an extreme heat warning, prompting an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

The postal worker, identified as 58-year-old Umeshkumar Thakkar, died July 20 after emergency responders were called to his postal vehicle. Officials have not determined the cause of death, and the U.S. Postal Service has not said whether extreme heat played a role.

The incident comes just one year after another North Texas letter carrier died while working in high temperatures, renewing attention on heat safety for postal employees.

Postal Worker Dies While on Duty

According to the Little Elm Fire Department, emergency crews responded around 2 p.m. Monday to the 1600 block of Thornhill Lane after receiving a call involving a postal vehicle.

Fire officials said responders performed CPR at the scene, but Thakkar could not be revived.

The U.S. Postal Service confirmed the employee’s death and said federal officials are investigating the incident.

“The Postal Service is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of a postal family member,” USPS said in a statement, per NBC 5 DFW. “Our thoughts are with their family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time.”

The agency also announced that grief counseling services will be provided to employees at the Little Elm Main Post Office.

“We will be providing counseling services to our employees at the Little Elm Main Post Office as the investigation into the incident continues,” the Postal Service said.

Funeral services for Thakkar are scheduled for Thursday, July 23, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Hughes Family Tribute Center.

Cause of Death Has Not Been Determined

The death occurred while an extreme heat warning was in effect across much of North Texas, where temperatures climbed into the triple digits and heat index values were significantly higher.

However, officials have not determined Thakkar’s cause of death, and USPS has not indicated that the death was heat-related.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Second North Texas Postal Worker Death in a Year

Thakkar’s death comes roughly one year after another North Texas postal worker died while delivering mail during dangerously hot conditions.

As previously reported by The Dallas Express, 51-year-old Jacob Taylor, a 28-year veteran letter carrier with the U.S. Postal Service, collapsed while working in Dallas on June 21, 2025.

Dallas police responded to a report of an unconscious person in the 4900 block of Bengal Street around 5 p.m. Dallas Fire-Rescue personnel performed CPR before Taylor was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. At the time, the Dallas County Medical Examiner listed his cause of death as pending while investigations continued.

Taylor’s death prompted National Association of Letter Carriers President Brian L. Renfroe to urge Congress to strengthen protections for postal employees working in extreme heat.

“Jacob Taylor died on the job last week,” Renfroe told members of a House Government Operations subcommittee, DX reported. “If Congress wants to help the Postal Service, they must do everything possible to protect letter carriers and all postal employees.”

Renfroe also called for a comprehensive heat illness prevention program, saying worker safety must remain a top priority.

Previous Heat-Related Death Led to OSHA Citation

Taylor’s death followed another well-known tragedy involving a Dallas postal worker.

In June 2023, 66-year-old letter carrier Eugene Gates Jr. died while delivering mail in the Lakewood neighborhood during extreme heat. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Gates suffered heat-related illness and cardiovascular stress while working in temperatures that left him with a body temperature exceeding 104 degrees.

Following its investigation, OSHA cited the U.S. Postal Service and proposed more than $15,600 in penalties for failing to adequately protect workers from heat-related hazards.

Heat Safety Remains a Growing Concern

The latest death comes as labor advocates continue calling for stronger safeguards for letter carriers and other outdoor workers who perform physically demanding jobs during Texas summers.

While investigators work to determine what caused Thakkar’s death, the incident underscores the risks faced by postal employees during periods of extreme heat and follows a series of high-profile cases that have fueled ongoing discussions about workplace heat safety and protections.