Monday, July 26, 2010

Weekly Toll: Death in the American Workplace

Crash Kills County Worker

July 23, MARBLE FALLS, TX - A head-on collision in Marble Falls Friday morning killed a teen and a Burnet County employee. Officials said both drivers died at the scene after the pickup traveling eastbound on SH 71 crossed the double yellow lines and struck the westbound dump truck head-on at 7:37 a.m. The impact knocked off the dump truck's rear axel, and it rolled and caught on fire. Officials said the driver of the pickup was a 17-year-old male, and the dump truck driver was a Burnet County Precinct 4 worker around 50 years old.


Worker Trapped in Trench Dies

July 23, DETROIT, MI - Dennis Jackson died after being caught in a trench collapse Friday afternoon. Another construction worker who was working the trench in a backhoe and residents in the area tried to pull the man out of the trench, but could only pull him enough to free his chest. "When we got back all we can see is his hat. We got his upper torso and then by that time the Fire Department got here," a worker said. It remains unclear why the walls of 18-foot-deep hole caved in.


MI Police Officer Fatally Shot

July 23, TAYLOR, MI - 31 year old Corporal Matthew Edwards died while responding to a domestic dispute. It started around 6:00 a.m. Friday when two Taylor Police officers responded to a 911 call that someone was breaking into the Coppertree Apartments. When they arrived, the officers confronted the suspect they caught going through a window. Turns out it was actually a domestic situation. Witnesses say Edwards was talking to the suspect when he all of a sudden pulled out a gun and started firing at Edwards. Edwards' partner quickly returned fire, shooting the suspect several times. The suspect and police traded more than a dozen gunshots. The suspect survived. Edwards did not. Edwards leaves behind a wife and two young children. He was recently honored as "Officer of the Year".


Deputy Dies Responding to Call

July 23, CLIFFIELD, VA - 35 year old Deputy Sheriff Shawn Hess of Tazwell died early Friday morning following a single-vehicle accident while responding to an assistance call from Richlands police, according to Detective Anne Hickman with the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office. Jess was responding to a “serious call” from the Richlands Police Department when his car hit a guardrail around 5:30 a.m and went over an embankment, according to Hickman. A passerby called in the accident, saying he saw the vehicle go off the road near Bug Street. Hickman said the vehicle was found near the Clinch River.


American Samoa Officer Shot and Killed

July 23, PAGO PAGO,AMERICAN SAMOA - Detective Lt. Lusila Brown, serving as security, was shot by a man who attended a relative’s court hearing. The witnesses of the murder says that the killer knew the detective, the witnesses heard him asking the detective for a chance to talk. They left the temporary High School Building in the U.S. territory but suddenly like a bolt from the blue the killer pulled a handgun from his bag and shot the detective to death.


Truck Driver for Carrie Underwood Dies in Crash

July 23, N. STONINGTON, CT - An unidentified tractor trailer driver who was carrying staging for Carrie’s Play On tour, died this morning when his semi truck crashed. State police said the accident happened early Saturday morning, when the truck, which was traveling north in the left lane, crossed the left shoulder and struck a guardrail, igniting the fuel tanks and sending the rig up in flames, before it tumbled over the bridge. Preliminary observations, according to one officer at the scene, indicate the driver fell asleep, since there did not appear to be any skid marks on the roadway.


Gerdau Ameristeel Employee Dies On-Site

July 23, CARTERSVILLE, GA - An employee of Gerdau Ameristeel died Friday morning at the Cartersville steel mill, 384 Old Grassdale Road. The incident involved the employee being struck by a piece of heavy, mobile equipment.


Two Workers Killed in Natural Gas Explosion

July 23, INDIANA TWP, PA - Two workers in Indiana Township, Pennsylvania were killed in a natural gas explosion Friday, officials said. The explosion sparked a fire, but the once tall flames were brought under control before long, Evanto said. The names of the victims were not immediately released. The exact cause has not been detailed in full, but state officials believe "people were welding at the site and there was an explosion and the well caught fire," said Helen Humphries, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection.


Man Found Dead in Work Related Accident

July 22, LOUISVILLE, KY - 43 year old Kevin Burrus died Thursday evening at University Hospital of multiple blunt force injuries and asphyxia, said Jim Wesley, a deputy Jefferson County coroner. Fellow employees found Burrus unconscious and unresponsive about 7 p.m. at Universal Linen. Burrus was standing up but pinned between two pieces of equipment. Homicide detectives are conducting a death investigation, Mitchell said.


Highway Volunteer Hit, Killed

July 22, GREEN BAY, WS - 70 year old Cornelius "Corky" VanHandel of New London was struck and killed while working along a road in Brown County. Authorities say VanHandel was working in a ditch along Highway 41 near De Pere Wednesday evening when he was struck by a car. He was volunteering for the Adopt-A-Highway program.


Greyhound Bus Driver Killed in Crash

July 22, FRESNO, CA - 57 year old James Jewett of Sacramento died when the tourist filled Greyhound Bus he was driving crashed into an SUV that had also crashed. Authorities suspect that the driver could not see the dark, overturned Trailblazer, which probably didn't have its lights on. The bus, carrying 36 people, hit the Trailblazer, careened to the east and clipped a Honda CR-V, authorities said. All three vehicles went off the highway and down a 15-foot embankment, according to the California Highway Patrol. The bus crashed into a eucalyptus tree, knocking the tree over and leaving limbs sticking from gaping holes in the bus. The 3 people in the Trailblazer died as did 2 of the bus passengers.


Man Killed in Log Truck Accident

July 22, VERNONIA, OR - 33 year old Joshua Schultz was killed and his 10 year old son was seriously injured when logs on the back of a truck crushed the cab, troopers said. For some unknown reason the truck crashed into a telephone pole and at least one tree before coming to an abrupt stop, which sent the logs forward and onto the cab, troopers said.


Workers Die Following Fall From Radio Tower

July 22, ANNISTON, AL - 37 year old Barry Sloan died when a McClellan radio tower was accidentally knocked down. Initially, 41 year old Jonce Hubble was reported injured but died while in surgery. Coroner Pat Brown said he could not release the exact cause of the accident, but noted the incident involved a vehicle. “(Sloan) was on the radio tower and there was a vehicle which hit a guy-wire, which caused the tower to fall,” Brown said.


Two Die in Blast in PA Refinery Explosion

July 22, PITTSBURGH, PA - 53 year old James Taylor of Aliqiuippa and 41 year old Corey Keller of Newell, WV were killed Thursday in an explosion that rocked the refinery portion of Horsehead Corp's Zinc Plant. Both men suffered smoke inhalation. The company says the exact cause remains under investigation. Investigators from an employees union and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration are also looking into the explosion.


Sheriff Struck and Killed by Fugitives

July 22, GEORGE COUNTY, MS - George County Sheriff Gary Welford was struck and killed by two people fleeing officers. Sheriff Welford was placing spike strips on the highway to stop them. The pair then left their vehicle and fled into the woods. Authorities were searching a wooded area along North Bexley Road near Lucedale for an 18-year-old female and her 24-year-old male passenger.


Worker Dead After Worksite Collapses On Him

July 22, ANCHORAGE, AL - 45 year old Steven Ziegler died when the structure he was standing on collapsed sending him falling down a hole with concrete and dirt that would eventually bury him. He was excavating an old well to get water to the new Goose Bay prison site. "Steven was working around a water well pipe casing when part of the casing gave way and he fell approximately from we can guess approximately 20 feet underneath the casing and was buried by dirt," said Alaska State Trooper James Streicher. Completely covered for over 15 minutes in the hole by concrete casing, rocks and dirt, Ziegler's rescue turned into a recovery to get his body out.


Two Die in Medical Helicopter Crash

July 22, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - A medical helicopter on its way to pick up a patient crashed in a secluded field in central Oklahoma late Thursday, killing two of three people on board, authorities said. The helicopter was en route from Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City to a hospital about 90 miles away in Okeene when it went down about 8 p.m. near Kingfisher. UPDATE: Officials have identified those who died in the crash as 56 year old pilot Al Harrison of Edmond and 35 year old nurse Ryan Duke of Oklahoma City.


Construction Worker Dies in 7 Story Fall

July 22, ARLINGTON, VA - a 35 year old iron worker was installing a balcony railing in a room at the Arlington Court Suites when he fell five stories and crashed through a two-story glass atrium at the front of the building. The man, whose name was not released, died at the scene.


Illinois Grocer Shot Outside Store

July 21, ARCOLA, IL - 32 year old Mark Maggio was shot and killed, allegedly by his brother, Wednesday outside a Tolono grocery. Maggio operated the Arcola IGA Store. Several eyewitnesses told investigators that Mark Maggio had gone into the Tolono grocery and was talking to employees when Brian Maggio returned to the grocery he co-owned with his brother after making a bank deposit. The brothers argued, and Mark Maggio left the store. Brian followed with a .357-caliber pistol in his hand, officers said. Mark Maggio was shot in the right side of the back a few minutes after noon Wednesday. Brian Maggio, 42, of Savoy was charged with first-degree murder Thursday in Champaign County Circuit Court.


Ohio Trucker Dies in Crash

July 21, CLEAVLAND, OH - 43 year old Farrell Isom was killed when his tractor-trailer crashed shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday on Route 22 east of Armagh. Isom was westbound and hauling 37,000 pounds of bananas when his rig went off the roadway, struck guardrails and went over a 30-foot embankment, Chief Deputy Coroner Jeffrey Lees said. It is not clear why the experienced driver went off the roadway, he said.


Man Dies After Tractor Tire Falls on Him

July 21, MT VERNON, WA - a 56 year old man has died from injuries he suffered last Friday when a tractor tire fell on him while he worked at a Mount Vernon farm equipment company. Authorities have not released his identity.


Construction Worker Killed in Florida

July 21, NAPLES, FL - 50 year old John Robert Jans of Bokeelia, an employee of Arnold Brothers, Inc. trying to clear an auger, a rotating element comparable to a large drill bit, in a concrete truck Wednesday died when his legs were severed, reports show. The man was trapped in the concrete truck. As a deputy arrived, he saw Estero Fire Rescue members trying to remove the man. Once they did, they began life-saving techniques, but he died at the scene.


Farmer Knocked Down by Cow, Dies

July 21, MAHONING TWP, PA - 81 year old Carl Troxell, a longtime farmer, was killed in a mishap on his farm late this morning, according to police. They said Troxell was knocked over by a cow on the Troxell Farm. Police said he managed to stand up after the impact, but then collapsed. But Coroner Bruce A. Nalesnik said Troxell likely died from a heart condition that may have been triggered after he fell by either being struck by the cow or trying to avoid the cow.


Two Workers Found Dead in Home

July 21, FORT WAYNE, IN - 48 year old Thomas A. Burd and 55 year old Daniel L. Lang were found dead in a Fort Wayne home where they had been doing repair work, but it's still unclear how they died. Officials are awaiting the results of toxicology tests that may reveal the cause and manner of death for each man. Foul play is not suspected in their deaths. Police said the men had been hired by the home's owner to do repair work on the residence.


Mississippi Deputy Injured in Wreck Dies

July 20, VICKSBURG, MS - 38 year old Deputy David Lambert died Tuesday from injuries he received from a car crash. On June 24, Lambert was responding to a call for assistance when he was forced to swerve to avoid hitting another vehicle that came through the intersection he was passing, officials said. The cruiser hit the median, which caused it to roll. Lambert suffered severe head injuries along with a crushed hip and pelvis, broken shoulder and internal trauma, officials said.


Farmer Dies After Being Pinned Beneath Tractor

June 20, STAPLETON, NE - 79 year old Loren Dean Hanna was killed late Saturday evening when he was trapped underneath his tractor, according to a press release from the Logan County Sheriff's office. Hanna was apparently pulling a pull-a-long bush hog when the tractor overturned and caught fire. A 911 call came in about 9:32 p.m. to the Logan County Fire and Rescue. When the units from the Stapleton Fire Department and the Logan County Sheriff's office arrived, they found the tractor engulfed in flames.


Man Dies After Falling Out of Truck

July 20, NAPPANEE, IN - 42 year old Eddie Borkholder has died after a Tuesday morning accident in which he fell off a truck's tailgate at Newmar Corp. Witnesses told police the truck hit a bump and Borkholder fell off the tailgate, striking his head on the pavement. Police continue to investigation this accident.


Deary Man Killed in Tractor Accident

July 20, DEARY, ID - 71 year old Herbert Weatherford was operating a Kubota tractor up a steep hill on his property near Highway 8 when the tractor slid backwards and rolled up to four times. Weatherford was flown by Life Flight to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston where he died shortly after being admitted.


Security Officer Shot, Killed on Patrol

July 20, BAKERSFIELD, CA - 34 year old Francisco Flores, a security guard, was fatally shot at Mercado Latino Sunday evening. He had previously worked for the Kern County Sheriff’s Department and was remembered by shop owners as the best guard on the premises. Flores was shot several times by three or four Hispanic men at the restaurant and shopping complex on Edison Highway, according to a Sheriff’s Department news release.


Man Killed by Falling Tree

July 20, ATLANTA, GA - 71 year old Norris Therlow Goss of Dawsonville was killed instantly Tuesday when he was struck by a falling tree while clearing a lot in Forsyth County. Goss was a part of three-man crew working off Fouts Drive, Capt. Frank Huggins told the AJC. "They were clearing the lot, and the guy driving the Bobcat pushed a tree over on him," Huggins said. The 75-feet-tall pine tree hit the man in the head, and firefighters had to cut several tree branches to reach him, Forsyth County fire Capt. Jason Shivers said.


Young Pilot Killed Doing Job He Loved

July 20, MOUNT PLEASANT, SC - 29 year old Dustin Rabe of Los Gatos, CA described the love for his job, saying, "I am a commercial pilot and I just landed my first flying job!!! I work for an aircraft delivery company delivering single engine aircraft over the North Atlantic to Europe. Some say it is dangerous, but once you do it for the first time, the adrenaline is addicting." Rabe died Tuesday when the Comp Air 8 kit and experimental aircraft crashed in Mount Pleasant. Autopsy results show Rabe died of head trauma. The FFA are still investigating the accident.


Cab Driver Killed in Crash

July 20, INDIANAPOLIS, IN - 31 year old Gwendolyn Marie Sanders of Bedford was killed when the taxi she was driving was struck head on in a collision with another car. Police said it appears the other driver passed at least one vehicle on a double-yellow as it crested a hill, then struck Sanders’ southbound cab head-on.


Worker Drowns at Medical Office

July 20, PHOENIX, AZ - an unidentified employee of a kidney dialysis office died while cleaning a salt water tank. He was cleaning the tank that is used for patients, when he somehow fell into the tub. Firefighters say he may have had a medical condition or may have been electrocuted in the water. Police are investigation and has not released the victim's name.


Club Valet Killed, Caught in Crossfire

July 19, WEST HOLLYWOOD, CA - 42 year old Luis Camargo, a valet parking attendant, was killed after a shooting outside a West Hollywood nightclub early Monday morning. According to detectives, the shooting erupted at about 2:10 a.m. after an argument outside Guys & Dolls Lounge, a popular celebrity nightclub. "The suspect shot into the crowd, and we know at least the valet driver's an innocent victim," said Sutton. Tellez, a close friend of the victim, said Camargo was killed right in front of his wife and his 15-year-old son. "She was with him last night working with him. She couldn't believe that was happening to her," she said.


Ranch Worker Dies Trying to Shoot Squirrels

July 19, CHICO, CA - Joaquin Medina, a Chico ranch worker, died Monday when a branch apparently fell on his head after he shot at squirrels, according to the Butte County Sheriff's Office. Medina was apparently shooting at squirrels and hit a large tree branch with a shotgun round. The branch apparently broke, deputies said, and hit Medina on the head, causing head trauma.


Cinema Workers Mourn Death of Fellow Employee

July 18, JOHNSTOWN,PA - 55 year old Leon Noel, a projectionist for Richland Cinema, suffered a heart attack and died Sunday. It was a somber mood at the Cinema Monday a day after his death. Employees told WJAC-TV they were shocked that Noel, who worked at the cinema for nearly 18 years, had passed away.


Two Dead in Construction Site Accident

July 16, WEST FRANKFORT, IL - two unidentified truck drivers died when Illinois State Police say they failed to stop at a line of vehicles at a construction site. A Police spokesperson says there were four vehicles stopped on U.S. 57 at West Frankfort when three trucks, a tractor trailer and two dump trucks, failed to stop. The three trucks were engulfed in flames and two of the drivers died. Illinois State Police continue to investigate.


Omnitrans Worker Killed is Remembered

May 7, FONTANA, CA - Family, friends and co-workers gathered July 22nd at the Omnitrans Fontana Transit Center to dedicate a memorial plaque to pay tribute to Lawrence Kester. Ashley Kester says her father was a 15 year veteran coach operator who was tragically killed by a passenger while on duty May 7th. "It also brings me some sort of happiness to see that he didn't die completely in vain, he will be remembered," says Kester.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Weekly Toll:Death in the American Workplace

Longtime Volunteer for Maritime Museum Dies From Fall

July 18, SAN DIEGO, CA - 68 year old Gregory Vance Gushaw, a former Naval officer volunteering at the Maritime Museum of San Diego died Sunday after falling from the mast of the famous 19th century ship the Star of India, authorities said. Gushaw was on the 140-foot forward mast of the ship doing a training exercise with three or four other crew members when he fell and hit his head on the iron-hulled ship as he fell an estimated 40 to 50 feet into the water of the San Diego Bay. Gushaw was on the 140-foot forward mast of the ship doing a training exercise with three or four other crew members when he fell, the museum's president and chief executive Ray Ashley said. Gushaw was a retired Naval officer who was a longtime volunteer crew member, tour guide and member of the museum's board of trustees, Ashley said.


Man Found Dead on Roof of Burlington Business

July 17, BURLINGTON, NC - 36 year old Dwayne Thomas Feaster was found dead on the roof of Burlington Industries House Finishing Plant Friday afternoon. When emergency responders and police arrived at the plant located on N. Anthony Street, Feaster was unresponsive. Plant employees attempted CPR, but EMS responders pronounced him dead soon after. Police say the cause of Feaster's death is unknown.


Utility Worker Dies in Trench Collapse

July 17, BALTIMORE, MD - an unnamed utility worker died Saturday after falling into a hole while doing private utility repair work in northeast Baltimore, according to Baltimore City Fire Department officials. Officials said the victim was climbing up a ladder from a large hole that had been dug during a utility repair job when he fell back into the hole. Somehow, dirt from the side walls covered the worker up to his waist. Medics said the man went into cardiac arrest before they could get to him.


Texan Killed in Industrial Accident


July 17, TYLER, TX - an unidentified man was killed Saturday in an industrial accident. The accident occurred during the off loading of sand like material from a railroad train hopper car onto a conveyor belt. During the course of this procedure a white male became trapped in the upper end of the conveyor system. He was freed from this device by the efforts of the Tyler Fire Department personnel. The man was transported to ETMC by ambulance and pronounced dead at this hospital. UPDATE: Authorities have identified 41 year old Eric Ferguson of Big Sandy as the C&C Trans Load Co. employee who was killed.


Truck Driver Dies After Accident

July 17, AUGUSTA, GA - 42 year old Robert James Lackey was found dead inside the cab of his truck after being involved in a crash, Coroner McDonald told News 12 on Saturday. McDonald believes Lackey had some type of medical emergency, causing him to lose control of the truck. He says Lackey has a family history of heart problems. But McGlohorn doesn't believe Lackey was disabled at the time of the crash. He says there are company cell phone records of Lackey calling 911 and alerting family members after the accident. He says witnesses at the scene saw Lackey get out of the truck and check on the other vehicle after the crash. He believes the stress of the crash triggered a heart attack once Lackey returned to his vehicle.


Worker Dies in Industrial Accident

July 16, JOPLIN, MO - 44 year old Keith Pickering died when he was hit by a falling piece of steel, which fractured his skull, on July 12. He was an employee of General Dynamics - formerly EVB Explosives. No other information is available.


Farm Worker Collapses and Dies

July 16, ARVIN, CA - 54 year old Rodolfo Ceballos Carrillo collapsed while working in a vineyard in Arvin on Wednesday. He apparently was helping to load heavy boxes of grapes onto trucks in 95 degree weather. California workforce safety officials say Carrillo's death is one of five possible heat-related deaths they're investigating across the state.


City Worker Suffers Heart Attack While Driving

July 16, CORPUS CRISTI, TX - 60 year old Eli Alaniz, a city worker, has died after crashing a city truck on the Crosstown Extension. Police say Alaniz may have suffered a heart attack. According to a witness, the Solid Waste employee crashed into a concrete barrier on his left. The impact then sent Alaniz straight into another concrete barrier on the other side of the freeway. Alaniz was rushed to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.


CA Farmer Killed When Struck by Semi

July 16, ALTON, CA - 37 year old Stephen Baer, who was driving from one field to another, was killed when his farm tractor was struck from behind by a big rig on U.S. Highway 101 on Wednesday in Fortuna. The Humboldt County Coroner's Office said Stephen Baer of Alton was driving a tractor and hay rake northbound at the Kenmore exit when a semi-truck driving the same direction plowed into the back of Baer's tractor.


Biologist found dead in Angeles National Forest ravine

July 15, PASADENA, CA - 70 year old Michael San Miguel was found dead in a ravine deep in the Angeles National Forest on Thursday morning. San Miguel was studying the environmental impact of running power lines in the area when he fell down the ravine Wednesday evening, Sgt. Debra Herman with the La Crescenta Valley sheriff's station said. He was working with Pasadena-based Bon Terra for the Renewable Transmission Project, Edison spokesperson Vanessa McGrady said. Homicide is continuing its investigation to determine San Miguel's injuries and cause of death, county Homicide Bureau officials said.


Michigan Farmer Dies When Tractor Rolls Onto Him

July 15, MANCHESTER, MI - 45 Jeff Bristle died Tuesday in a tractor accident. He was working on his tractor’s engine when somehow it went into gear and rolled over him, said Gary Bross of Sharon Township, a close friend of Bristle. No other details on the incident were available.


Pastor Hit by Car Dies From Injuries

July 15, JACKSONVILLE, FL - 35 year old Byran Turner, who was hit by a car Saturday has died of his injuries. Turner, a campus pastor, friend, husband and father, had been in a coma at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center. Turner, campus Pastor of University Baptist Church, was hit by a car Saturday when he stepped out in the road while passing out Vacation Bible School fliers.


Fiery Crash Claims Two Semi Truck Drivers

July 15, ST LOUIS, MO - 52 year old Carl Jones of Florissant, MO and 54 year old Randy Reynolds of Haran, IL, both tractor-trailer drivers, were killed in a fiery crash in a freeway construction zone in Frankfurt, Ill., Thursday. Illinois State Police said seven cars, including three tractor-trailers, were involved in the wreck.


Dairy Farmer Killed by Bull

July 15, BARNARD, VT - 55 year old Dwight Clark was killed by a bull while bringing in the cows for milking. Police say the bull was a full-grown Holstein that did not have horns. The bull had been left in the pasture with the cows for breeding.


Worker Crushed Between Two Dump Trucks

July 15, FORESTVILLE, MD - 27 year old William Davis of Bryantown, MD was killed in a construction zone accident near the Beltway in Forestville early Thursday, authorities said. Davis was standing on the step to the driver side seat of a dump truck parked in the first lane trying to retrieve an item from the cab, authorities said. Another dump truck then backed into the vehicle, wedging him behind the door.


Responder Killed on The Way to Scene of Accident

July 15, TROUT RUN, PA - 20 year old Richard L. Springman of Cogan Station was on his way to a fatal two-vehicle collision on Route 15 Wednesday afternoon when he lost control of his pickup truck and crashed. He was nearing the first crash scene at Powys Curve in Lewis Township when apparently his vehicle swerved and struck a guardrail along the west berm of the highway,and that after hitting the guardrail, Springman oversteered, causing his truck to travel sideways across both southbound lanes and up onto a guardrail along the east berm, Trooper James Doane said. "After sliding on the guardrail, the truck rolled once and maybe twice" before landing upright in the middle of the southbound lanes, about 300 yards north of the crash he was responding to, Doane said. It is the first line-of-duty death for the fire company. Springman, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the truck, landing about 15 feet from his vehicle, Doane said.


Industrial Accident Claims One at NV Energy Plant

July 15, MOAPA, NV - 50 year old William Paul Hammond was killed Monday in an industrial accident at the NV Energy Reid-Gardner Station in Moapa, NV. The cause and manner of his death have not been determined. A spokeswoman for NV Energy declined to comment on the circumstances of the death. Officer Marcus Martin, a police spokesman, said medical help was requested for a man who "possibly severed his arm," although that had not been confirmed, he said. More details of the accident are not yet available.


Carlsbad City Treasurer Found Dead in his Office

July 14, SAN DIEGO, CA - 59 year old Harold McSherry, Carlsbad City Treasurer, was found dead this week in his office, where he apparently committed suicide by putting plastic bags over his head and inhaling nitrogen gas, according to the county coroner's office. McSherry was suffering from brain cancer and recently had been in significant pain from the illness, according to published reports.


Worker Dies of Heart Attack

July 14, BOSSIER CITY, LA - 51 year old Peri Joe Curro was found dead Wednesday afternoon on a piece of property in rural south Bossier Parish appears to have died of a heart attack, the coroner said today. The man suffered from coronary artery disease and his condition likely was aggravated by the high temperatures and manual labor he was doing, Dr. John Chandler said. Curro had been working outside much of the day doing odd jobs for a landowner, including clearing scrap metal. The landowner found him dead about 5 p.m., sheriff's deputies said.


Shipyard Employee Found Dead

July 14, NEWPORT NEWS, VA - an unidentified employee of Northrup Grumman's Shipyard was found dead Wednesday morning. Harold Eley, a spokesman for Newport News police said that foul play was not suspected in the death, but that investigators were looking into it as a suspected suicide. Little information on the employee's identity or the circumstances of the death was available on Wednesday. No information was available about what the employee did and what role the person might have had with the company. UPDATE: Authorities identified 45 year old Hugh E. Ball III of Poquoson and has determined cause of death.


Commerce City Employee Dies From Injuries

July 14, COMMERCE CITY, CO - 76 year old James Bohling, who was injured at Buffalo Run Golf Course on Tuesday has passed away at Denver General Hospital from injuries sustained in the accident. Bohling was a seasonal worker at the golf course for the past four years.


Construction Killed at NJ High School

July 14, LINWOOD, NJ - 59 year old Robert Carter of Egg Harbor Twp died of possible electrocution at the Mainland Regional High School where he was a construction worker. Carter was reportedly given CPR at the scene and was transported to Shore Memorial Hospital by AtlantiCare for further treatment. Carter died with electrocution as the suspected cause of death. No further information is available at this time.


Worker Killed in ATV Accident

July 14, BLACKFOOT, ID - 54 year old Glen Raymond Murbrook, who was spraying weeds in the Wolverine area near the Blackfoot River died when the four-wheeler he was driving tipped over and landed on top of him. Murbrook was working for a private contractor spraying weeds for the Bingham County Weed Department, according to a sheriff's department news release. An investigation indicates that he was traversing a side hill when the left front wheel hit a root causing the ATV to roll down an embankment landing on top of him.


Construction Worker Struck and Killed

July 14, COLUMBUS, OH - 25 year old Eric Kirkbride of Zanesville was killed this morning while working on Interstate 70, with Shelly and Sands Inc. Kirkbride was working with a construction crew when he was struck by a vehicle that kept going after the accident. A person of interest in the case was being questioned by detectives, but no arrests have been made, police told 10TV. UPDATED article.


Donut Shop Worker Killed During Robbery Attempt

July 14, DUNCANVILLE, TX - Police are on the scene of a deadly shooting at a donut shop in Duncanville. Someone armed with a gun tried to rob the Donut Palace in a strip center on S. Cedar Ridge Drive at W. Center St. One worker was killed, and the shop's owner was wounded. He was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital. UPDATE: Authorities have identified the man shot as 38 year old Carlos Martinez of Seagoville.


Bunker Hill Woman Killed in Tractor Rollover

July 14, BUNKER HILL, IL - 56 year old Jacquelin L. Waters was killed Wednesday morning when the tractor she was driving overturned, pinning her beneath it. Macoupin County Sheriff Don Albrecht said the family told him that Waters and her husband, Paul, had been cutting some timber on their property, and she was driving the 4000 Series Ford tractor. A chain was attached to the back of the tractor and also was attached to a large section of sawed tree that had several branches remaining on it and it appeared the sawed section snagged on the ground, causing the tractor to rear up, and overturned, pinning Mrs. Waters underneath it," Albrecht said.


Truck Driver Changing Tire Crushed by Trailer

July 14, DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, FL - 56 year old Elmer Dudley Reams of Woodville, FL died Wednesday after his trailer crushed him as he tried to change a flat tire. Reams was driving his tractor trailer north on U.S. Highway 331 near Hawthorn Road when a tire on the right side of his truck’s trailer went flat. He crawled under the trailer, the release reads. As he was changing the tire, the trailer overturned on its right side, crushing him. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.


Delivery Driver Killed in I-20 Wreck

July 14, BOSSIER CITY, LA - 24 year old Anthony Jordan Copia was killed Wednesday morning when his truck crashed into the back of a tractor-trailer rig that had stopped in heavy traffic on Interstate 20 in Bossier City. Copia, a driver for Porter's cleaners, was trapped in the truck after the collision. A Fire Department rescue squad rushed to extricate Copia from the wreckage but he was dead when firefighters got to him, authorities said.


Worker Fatally Crushed

July 14, MISSION, TX - 48 year old Eduardo Sonen of Edcouch was fatally crushed beneath a spilled load of cattle fencing Wednesday afternoon. A worker was using a forklift to move some cattle panel fencing when the load fell toward Sonen, crushing his body atop a three-point hay buck, a tool used to move hay, Garza said. Firefighters and paramedics were unable to resuscitate Sonen at the accident scene. Hidalgo County Justice of the Peace Luis Garza pronounced his death.


Worker Crushed by Drilling Gear on Arlington Gas Rig

July 13, ARLINGTON, TX - an unnamed worker was fatally crushed Tuesday afternoon by drilling equipment at a gas well site close to the Kennedale border, authorities reported. The man is thought to be an employee of Trinidad Drilling, a Canadian company working for Chesapeake Energy, which owns the pad site in the 5700 block of U.S. 287, authorities said. Alan Kassen, Arlington assistant fire chief, said it appeared that a large piece of drilling equipment fell on the worker about 4:15 p.m., killing him instantly, during assembly of the rig. UPDATE: Authorities have identified the man killed as 34 year old Nabor Moctezuma Alvarado.


Okmulgee Teen Dies After Crashing Tow Truck

July 13, OKMULGEE COUNTY, OK - 16 year old Troy Don Kimbley was killed when the wrecker he was driving overturned on a curve. Kimbley's 1991 International Rollback wrecker was headed westbound when the vehicle failed to negotiate a curve, ran off the right side of the road and overturned two and a half times coming to rest on its top. The tow truck was hauling a vehicle, the report states. The passenger in the vehicle was treated and released from the hospital.


Tractor Trailer Driver Dies in Rollover

July 13, BINGHAMTON, NY - 53 year old Robert Morell of Cochranton, PA is dead following a tractor-trailer rollover at 4:20 p.m. Monday on State Route 414, south of Cons Road in Franklin Township. Morrell was driving a 2000 Freightliner westbound on the roadway, hauling an empty cattle trailer, Pennsylvania State Police in Towanda said. Morrell suddenly swerved out of control and left the westbound lane. The vehicle rolled onto its passenger side and slid west along the ditch, where the cab struck a utility pole, police said.


Rail Worker Killed in Train Accident

July 13, DEERFIELD, NH - 35 year old Kurt Ward of North Conway was killed in an accident involving train cars early Tuesday morning while working at the Pan American Railway yard in east Deerfield. Ward was rushed to Baystate Franklin Medical Center with a severely injured leg and was pronounced dead at the medical center. Authorities said Ward was working at uncoupling rail cars at the time of the accident, which damaged his leg and caused significant bleeding. According to the district attorney, an autopsy is expected in the case by the end of the week.


Delivery truck driver shot in Fort Worth robbery spree dies

July 13, WATUAGA, TX - 29 year old Ruben Martinez, a delivery truck driver shot last month during a crime spree in Fort Worth has died, authorities say. Martinez was delivering beer to a North Fort Worth convenience store on June 29 when he was shot in the neck during a robbery. He died at 10:30 p.m. Monday at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. Two men from Fort Worth have been arrested in the robbery.


Firefighter Dies Weeks After Suffering a Heart Attack

July 12, MILMONT, PA - Charles Hornberger died on July 12 from complications of a heart attack he suffered after a call on June 30, according to the fire company's Web site. Hornberger responded to the call shortly after 11:32 a.m. at a commercial structure on MacDade and Milmont Avenue. Following the call, he collapsed and was transported to Taylor Hospital in Ridley Park. Hornberger was a life member of the Milmont Fire Company and held the position of assistant engineer as well as past deputy chief.


Two Young Workers Die After Falling Into Silo

July 12, MIDDLEVILLE, MI - 18 year old Victor Perez and 17 year old Francisco M. Martinez have died after falling into a silo at a Michigan dairy farm. Authorities say they were using a power-washer to clean a 10-foot high silo when they fell in. The silo was used to store a molasses-type mixture used in cow feed. Farm worker Bob Forbes told The Grand Rapids Press the teens weren't doing something particularly dangerous and they knew how to do it. UPDATED article to cause of the deaths.


Construction Worker Killed By Dump Truck

July 12, IOWA CITY, IA - an unnamed construction worker was struck and killed by a dump truck Monday in a construction area on Interstate 80 in Iowa City. Iowa City Police, Iowa State Patrol, Johnson County Ambulance and the Iowa DOT responded to the accident late Monday morning, but the victim was already dead when they arrived at the scene. The victim's name has not been released and the incident is still under investigation. UPDATE: Authorities have identified the worker as 31 year old Gamaliel Rodriguez of West Liberty.


Tree Trimmer Killed in Accident

July 12, SOUTHGATE, KY - A 32 year old man who had been hired to trim a tree is dead after an accident Monday afternoon in Northern Kentucky. Police say the man had been trapped when a large tree that he and a small work crew had been working to remove accidentally fell on him causing fatal injuries.


Police Investigating Truck Stop Death

July 12, GREENSBORO, NC - Authorities continue to investigate the death of a 45-year-old man found dead in his truck cab Monday at the Truck Stops of America Greensboro Travel Center near Burlington. The man’s identity is being withheld pending family notification, Yancey said. Police did not say how the man died and provided no other details.


Farmer Killed in ATV Accident

July 12, GREENSBURG, PA - 69 year old James Rugh died yesterday after overturning an all-terrain vehicle while working on his farm. Authorities said Rugh was spraying weeds along a fence line on his property when the accident occurred. Police said a passing motorist spotted the tires from Rugh's overturned ATV and telephoned police.


NHRD Driver Dies in Accident During Race

July 12, KENT, WA - 60 year old Mike Niver of Phoenix, AZ died on Sunday in a fatal car accident while racing at the Pacific Raceways. Niver, who had been into racing for more than 40 years, died a tragic death after a car crash, during which the parachutes of his racing car ripped off, and prevented the veteran driver from avoiding the collision.


Man Electrocuted After Hitting Electrical Wires

July 12, HOUMA, LA - 46 year old Rodney J. Martin of Chauvin was electrocuted about 3:15 p.m. when the device he held made contact with electrical wires at a shopping center in Cut Off, said Lafourche Sheriff's Office Sgt. Lesley Hill Peters. Martin was in a man-lift, a device used to elevate workers within reach of roofs and other hard-to-access items. Martin owned a power-washing and tree-removal business that he operated during his time off from the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office, officials there said.


University Professor Found Dead in Lab

July 12, BOSTON, MA - 62 year old Francesco Cerrina, known as Franco to his colleagues, was found dead in a fifth-floor lab at the university’s Photonics Center this morning, BU officials said today. Boston police have not released the cause of death, but have ruled out homicide, a police spokesman said. OSHA was also notified. "Anytime there is a workplace death, OSHA would investigate unless it's obviously not work-related. And at this point, that's not so obvious," said John Chavez, a spokesman for the US Department of Labor which oversees OSHA.


Two Workers Dead in Albuquerque Office Rampage

July 12, ALBUQUERQUE, NM - 47 year old Sharon Cunningham and 36 year old Michele Turner were killed by a gunman who was on a rampage at the site of his former employer, Emcore Corp. Cunningham was the first to be shot in the attack that police say capped a bitter custody dispute between Robert Reza and his ex-girlfriend, Adrienne Basciano, 49, over their 5-year-old twins. Basciano was shot several times and injured in an employee break area where she was sitting with another woman, Michele Turner. Schultz said Reza then killed Turner, shooting her multiple times as she lay helpless. Three others were shot and wounded before gunman Reza killed himself.


CA Based Aid Worker Killed in Uganda

July 12, SAN DIEGO, CA - A San Diego aid group says one of its American workers is dead in an attack that killed dozens of people in the African nation of Uganda. The website for Invisible Children, a group that helps child soldiers, identified the man as Nate Henn. Officials say 64 people died Sunday in Kampala when explosions tore through crowds at a rugby club and an Ethiopian restaurant. Henn, who was at the rugby field, apparently was the only American killed.


Farm Worker Dies After Being Run Over

July 11, SHELBY, NY - an unidentified western New York farm worker has died after he was run over by a flatbed truck driven by another employee. The Orleans County Sheriff's Office says the man was lying under the truck late Sunday afternoon when another worker moved the truck, unaware that someone was underneath the vehicle. The identity of the victim has not been released. The victim and the other worker, were employed by the Root Brothers Farms of Albion.


Employee Dead After Truck Slams Into Store

July 10, GREELEY, CO - 23 year old Jennifer Hudgens was killed when a pickup truck smashed into the Visonworks store in the Greeley Mall. Police told The Greeley Tribune that the driver seemed to be accelerating when he hit the building, although authorities don't know why. A witness told the newspaper the Chevrolet pickup was traveling at 30 to 40 mph. A female customer was also killed and her 9 year old son was injured in the incident.


Tragic Plane Crash Kills Three Executives

June 10, GLENPOOL, OK - Three executives of US Highland, Inc., a Glenpool motorcycle manufacturer, have died in a plane crash late Saturday night in Mohawk Park, just north of Tulsa International Airport. 51 year old Chase Bales, COO; 41 year old Mats Malmberg, President; and 37 year old Damian Riddock, CFO. All three were returning from a business trip to Michigan. The pilot requested an emergency landing at Tulsa International Airport, but the Twin Engine Cessna never made it. The morning after the fatal crash, the wreckage of the Cessna was barely visible from SkyNews6. The plane went down in a heavily-wooded area of Mohawk Park, making it difficult for first responders to reach. National Transportation Safety Board investigators will determine whether or not a lack of fuel caused the crash.


Store Employee Shot and Killed During Robbery

July 10, BROOKFIELD, IL - 38 year old Bashar Fakhouri of Alsip was shot and killed during an apparent armed robbery in west suburban Brookfield Friday night. Brookfield police responded to a call of shots fired at about 10:27pm Friday night according to Police Chief Steven Stelter. Police arrived to find a man shot and unconscious inside the store.


State Worker Dies of Injuries After Being Struck by Vehicle

July 9, TRENTON, NJ - 31 year old Hikema George died from her injuries late this afternoon after being struck by a runaway SUV outside her office at Riverview Plaza on the Trenton waterfront this morning. State police reported that an intoxicated driver, traveling south on a small street that runs between the office building and a parking garage, jumped the right curb and pinned George against the wall. Officials with the state police said George suffered a severe leg injury and lost a large quantity of blood before she arrived at the hospital.


Man Dies in Farming Accident

July 9, CABELL COUNTY, WV - an unidentified man working on a piece of farm equipment Friday afternoon was pinned against a tree and died. The man apparently was working on a large piece of equipment known as a "ditch witch" when it slipped over an embankment and pinned the man - killing him. Cabell County Sheriff Tom McComas says the man's neighbor discovered his body around 7 p.m. Friday along Barker's Ridge Road near Milton. UPDATE: Cabell County Police have identified the man as 60 year old Paul M. Miller.


One Dead in Crash of Semi Truck

July 9, DEFUNIAK SPRINGS, FL - 45 year old Morris G. Hamontree, of West Green, GA died in a Thursday night accident on I-10 approximately two miles west of DeFuniak Springs. He was the passenger in the tractor trailer rig. According to the FHP, the rig was traveling westbound on I-10 in the inside lane when the driver apparently failed to negotiate a curve and drove off the roadway into the center grass median. The driver over-corrected and lost control of the rig, which then crossed both westbound lanes of I-10 and overturned onto its right side.


Firefighter Responding to Call Dies of Heart Attack

July 9, WILLIAMSTOWN, PA - 50 year old Douglas L. Smith, a veteran member of Williamstown, Dauphin County's Liberty Hose No. 1 fire company died this morning after going into cardiac arrest as he tried to respond to a call. Smith arrived at Liberty's station to head to a house fire in Orwin, about 10:30 a.m, however, Smith did not look well, Slough said. Slough said an ambulance was called and as crews rolled out, Smith's heart stopped. Smith is survived by a teenage daughter.


Mine Accident in Kentucky Claims One

July 9, SALINE COUNTY, KY - an unidentified 58 year old miner was killed when a twenty-ton piece of equipment rolled over the worker according to Peabody officials. The victim’s name has not been released, but a source tells News Three he's a 58 year old man from Cadiz, Kentucky who was planning to retire in just a couple of weeks. The accident happened 500 feet below ground and three miles into the mine when a battery hauler, a piece of equipment that loads coal onto a conveyor belt, struck and killed the victim. UPDATE: Officials have identified 61 year old Thomas N. Brown of Eddyville, KY as the miner who was killed in this incident.


Firefighter Dies on Job Months Before Retirement

July 9, GREENVILLE, SC - 61 year old Bob Flintom battled fires for more than 30 years but the Pelham Batesville Fire Department firefighter had been on light duty since September, though, due to health reasons, according to his boss. Chief Phill Jolley said Flintom was in the kitchen preparing lunch when he blacked out, fell and hit his head hard on the dishwasher. "He got back up and had blood on his head," Jolley said Flintom told his co-workers that found him. Flintom later went to the hospital and discovered his fall caused some internal bleeding, according to Jolley.
The next day, he suffered a setback and went unconscious. Flintom never woke up.


Electrician Dies on Job at Disney

July 9, KISSIMMEE, FL - 50 year old Steven Synder of Davenport has died in an apparent industrial accident while working at Walt Disney World. He was an electrician employed by Buena Vista Construction Co., a Disney business entity. Snyder was helping to build a temporary platform at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. He was injured shortly after 10 a.m. while connecting a power supply to the platform. A spokeswoman for the Osceola County Sheriff's Office said she could not confirm whether he was electrocuted. She said the investigation is continuing.


Welder Dies Following Explosion

July 8, ENGLEWOOD, CO - 33 year old Erik Donaldson of Arvada died this afternoon after he was injured when vapors inside a fuel tank exploded in Englewood. Donaldson was working on a 21,000-gallon railroad tank car that was about half full of fuel and water when a fire ball erupted from a vent "and caught him," said Englewood Fire Department spokeswoman Marla Wilcox.


Farmer Dies When Tractor Overturns

July 8, OTTER TAIL COUNTY, MN - 62 year old John Antonsen of Lakeville was killed after being pinned underneath a tractor that was submerged underwater Tuesday night, according to the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Office. Otter Tail County Deputies arrived on scene and located the tractor. It was an older model, with no cab or protective frame and was found lying upside down and was partially submerged in about one to two feet of water on the north side of Heart Lake Rd.


Diver Who Died in Accident Identified

July 8, SPARTENBURG, IL - UPDATE to a post in the July 5th Weekly Toll - 33 year old Chris Hollifield has been identified as the diver who died during a diving accident while performing maintenance on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Hollifield was just one day away from returning home from a month-long diving trip off the Gulf Coast when the accident occurred, and — as an expecting father with new responsibilities on the horizon — Hollifield planned to stop diving and pursue a career as a supervisor in the field. It is still unknown just what caused the accident.


One Dead After Three Semi Trucks Crash

July 8, TURLOCK, CA - One man is dead after three big rigs were involved in a fiery crash that closed the southbound lanes on Highway 99. The California Highway Patrol says the crash occurred just before midnight Tuesday when the first tractor-trailer that had been on the shoulder of road began re-entering the highway. A second semi slowed to let the truck merge, but a third semi driver apparently didn't see what was happening and drove into the rear of the second truck. CHP officer Rick Horrocks says that crash pushed the second semi into the first. Meanwhile, the third semi exploded in flames and the driver was killed. His name wasn't immediately available. The other two drivers just had minor injuries.


Feds Release Name Of Worker Killed At Massey Mine

July 7, POCOHONTAS, WV - UPDATE to post in the July 5th Weekly Toll blog. Regulators have released the name of an electrician who died from injuries suffered at a Massey Energy coal mine in southern West Virginia. Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration spokeswoman Amy Louviere said Wednesday the victim was 60 year old Wilbert R. Starcher of Orient Hill. Regulators say Starcher was run over by a piece of heavy equipment at Massey's Pocahontas Mine in Greenbrier County last Thursday.


Agriculture Worker Dies in Accident

July 7, ROOSEVELT, WA - 33 year old Luis Enrique Macias of Prosser was killed on Highway 14 near Roosevelt in Klickitat County on Sunday when his pickup truck drifted off the road and rolled. The state patrol said he was not wearing a seat belt. The cause of the crash is under investigation. He was born in Michoacan, Mexico, and lived in the Lower Valley for 12 years. He worked for Mercer Ranches.


Chicago Police Officer Shot With His Own Weapon

July 7, CHICAGO, IL - 43 year old Officer Thor Soderberg was shot and killed with his own weapon Wednesday afternoon during a struggle outside a South Side police station, authorities said. Soderberg was an academy instructor who volunteered his time by serving as a guide to a blind triathlete. Soderberg had finished his shift and was standing near his car when a 24-year-old man attacked — disarming him and shooting him with Soderberg’s own weapon, Jackson said.


Worker Collapses and Dies at Construction Site

July 7, WAYNESBURG, PA - 25 year old Mike Czerwein of West View, a Waynesburg University football coach died after collapsing Tuesday at a construction site where he was working. Czerwein died at Ruby Memorial Hospital a short time later. A cause of death has not been released.


Worker Dies After Fall From Ladder

July 7, ALEXANDER, IA - an unidentified employee of Latham Hi-Tech Seeds in Alexander has died after apparently falling off a ladder. He was taken to Belmond Medical Center and then flown to Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City, where he died, company vice president Shannon Latham said. His name is being withheld until his relatives are notified.


Polk County Man Dies On The Job

July 7, BARSTOW, FL - 61 year old Ronald Sandford Lewis of Fort Meade was killed at Marden Industries around 8:30a.m. when a large metal structure he was welding on toppled over, killing him. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating why the structure, which is used for agricultural work, fell over.


Worker Crushed as Concrete Roof Collapses

July 7, FREMONT, OH - 35 year old Nate Kern of Gibsonburg was killed when he was trapped under the roof of a food-packing plant that collapsed. Kern and another co-worker of B&W Welding were on the plant's roof about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday when it suddenly dropped over the cooking room at the Fremont Co., 802 North Front St., police said. Mr. Kern suffered injuries related to being crushed and was pronounced dead on the scene, Fremont Police Chief Tim Wiersma said. His co-worker was trapped by the concrete for hours but was finally freed by rescue personnel.


Police Sergeant Hit by Drunk Driver, Dies

July 7, SHELTON, CT - Sergeant Orville Smith who was struck over the weekend while directing traffic after a fire died early Wednesday of his injuries. Smith was directing traffic on Route 110 at Indian Well Road when he and his cruiser were hit. Police say he died of complications from the injuries he suffered in the accident.


Bus Driver Dies in Collision

July 7, ARARAT, PA - 72 year old Ruth Lynady of Clarks Summit is dead after the bus she was driving collided with one being driven by her husband. Susquehanna County Coroner Anthony Conarton says 72-year-old Ruth Lynady was ejected from the bus she was driving in the crash Tuesday in Ararat, about 30 miles north of Scranton. Conarton says the buses were driving together to a nearby camp at the time of the crash. No passengers were aboard.


Young Man Dies in Farm Tractor Accident

July 6, MOBERLY, MO - 14 year old Curtis D. Stallo died Sunday morning from injuries sustained in a tractor accident south of Salisbury. Stallo died after a John Deere tractor he was driving overturned off a bridge. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says the tractor was pulling a flatbed trailer Sunday when it collided with the railing on a Chariton County bridge. The tractor toppled over and disconnected from the trailer. Young Stallo was ejected and the tractor landed on him. The Chariton County Coroner pronounced the high school student, who was a member of the FFA, dead at the scene.


Pilot Killed in Chopper Crash

July 6, MADISONVILLE, KY - 55 year old Timothy E. Watson of Lawrenceville, GA has been killed while spraying a field in western Kentucky. A news release from the KSP states Watson was spraying fungicide and fertilizer late Monday afternoon on a farm field in Crittendon County when his helicopter struck power lines. The investigating trooper said the Robinson Model R44 helicopter came down about 200 feet from the utility lines and burned.


Tucson Clerk Shot and Killed During Robbery

July 6, TUCSON, AZ - 54 year old Mahesh Patel, a clerk at the Catalina Market was found dead on the floor inside the store by Tucson police just after 1 p.m. Monday, according to a department news release. Patel's body had "obvious signs of trauma," the release said. Police have declined to elaborate on the victim's cause of death. Witnesses told police they saw a man leave the store carrying a cash register and get into a Chrysler 300 sedan, according to the release.


Young Landscape Worker Killed in Explosion

July 6, BUSHKILL, PA - 12 year old Luke Hahn of Pen Argyl was helping his dad do landscaping work at Cherry Hill Tree Farm in Bushkill on Monday and accidentally backed a dump truck into the valve of an underground tank, sending propane rushing from the tank that was used to heat a nearby swimming pool. Luke got out of the truck to investigate. His father, Kraig Hahn, must have heard something and got out of the backhoe he was operating to see what happened. No one knows what sparked the explosion, causing the escaping propane to ignite. But at that moment, flames spread across the ground, consuming the boy first and then his father. Luke, whose birthday would have been Wednesday, was to start seventh grade at Wind Gap Middle School in the fall, Pen Argyl Area School District Superintendent William Haberl said. His mother worked as a teacher's aide in the district.


Wytheville Town Employee Hit by Car

July 6, WYTHEVILLE, VA - 61 year old Carl Donald "Duck" Linkous died Friday at a Roanoke hospital, where he was airlifted on June 29 following a collision. He died after his tractor was struck by a vehicle on North Fourth Street. According to Wytheville Police Department Lt. Joel Hash, Linkous had been mowing and was headed toward town on a 2002 Kubota tractor at 9:44 a.m. when a 79 year old man attempted to pass in a no-passing zone. The driver swerved to avoid an oncoming vehicle and struck the left rear of the tractor, which ejected Linkous, Hash said. The driver who hit Linkous faces Reckless driving charges.


School District Employee Succumbs to Injuries

July 6, TOWANDA, PA - 51 year old Bruce Allen Clouse of Wyalusing, died Tuesday from injuries he sustained in a fall last month. Clouse, a maintenance worker for Wyalusing Area School District, accidentally fell for an unknown reason from the scaffolding, Bradford County Coroner Thomas Carman said. The accident occurred at approximately noon on June 25, the coroner said. Mr. Clouse fell 15 feet from the scaffolding and landed on his head on cement, the coroner said. The cause of his death was respiratory failure secondary to a subdural hemorrhage, which was the result of multiple skull fractures, the coroner said.


Farmer Dies in Tractor Accident

July 6, CAZENOVIA, NY - 83 year old Gorden A. Bowers died today while operating an International Harvester tractor to rake a field about 600 feet from his house, troopers said. He was found by family on his back under the tractor's left rear tire with the machine still running, troopers said. His death does not appear suspicious.


ND Truck Driver Dies in Accident

July 6, STEARNS COUNTY, MN - 62 year old John Rhinesmith of West Fargo, ND was killed after the tractor truck he was driving rolled on I-94 just before noon on Monday, near Avon, according to the Minnesota State Patrol. Rhinesmith crossed the center median over the eastbound lanes, ran off the road and the truck rolled, according to authorities.


Farmer Killed When Tractor Rolls

July 5, RURAL MODE, IL - 76 year old Ralph Slifer died Saturday at the scene of a mowing accident during which the full-sized farm tractor and mower attachment he was operating rolled over, pinning him underneath the machinery. Slifer was discovered underneath the overturned tractor by a relative on the family farm in rural Holland Township. He had been mowing on a steep embankment on the east side of County Rural Road 1900E, said Shelby County Coroner Brian Green.


Florida Store Clerk Killed in Robbery

July 5, WEST PALM BEACH, FL - 55 year old Mohammad Rahman and a customer were shot and killed during a robbery at a convenience store. Both were shot and killed Saturday night in the Dixie Food and Beverage convenience store after witnesses saw two men come into the store with guns and demanded money. Police are still searching for the two suspects.


Tanker Truck Crash Kills Driver

July 5, LAGRANGE, OH - 75 year old Philip Linden, owner of Linden Propane, was killed when he drove off the road, overturned and his truck caught fire. Their investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing. Troopers are examining the truck and waiting for the coroner's report, which could take weeks. Fire officials said the truck, a 2005 Mack truck, was carrying about 6,000 gallons of anhydrous ammonia – a fertilizer – when the crash happened. A small amount of the chemical leaked from the truck. Officials said the truck was taking the chemical to a farm south of where the incident occurred.


Yoga Instructor's Death Under Investigation

July 5, NEW BERLIN, PA - Sudharman, director for Integral Yoga Center on Market Street in New Berlin was found dead at the center by another instructor. Debbie Tillet said Sudharman was a good yoga teacher and well-known in the community. His death is being investigated as a possible homicide.


Dallas Tavern Owner Killed for Profits

July 5, DALLAS, TX - 50 year old Antonio Charles, owner of a local tavern, was shot and killed after leaving work. Police believe it was a robbery of the day's profit's and that it was a planned attack. According to Lt. Craig Miller with the Dallas Police Department, three people were returning home from work at a nearby nightclub. A suspect approached as they were getting out of a Ford pickup truck in the parking lot of the apartment complex. Some words were exchanged and shots were fired. "It was a planned attack. there's no reason the individual that committed this crime didn't know the people inside. Certainly knew their schedule - knew what time they'd be home - knew exactly where they parked the vehicle" said Miller.


Man Killed in Tractor/Train Accident

July 5, ORRICK, MO - 24 year old Ryan Bunch of Richmond died Saturday when a train hit his farm tractor that was stopped on a railway. The Missouri Highway Patrol says the crash occurred just after 1 p.m. Saturday in the small down outside of Richmond, Missouri.


Log Truck Overturns, Kills Driver

July 4, PADUKAH, KY - 62 year old Richard Rittenberry died when the semi he was driving, hauling logs, overturned at the intersection of Blandville Road and McCracken Boulevard near the Information Age Park in Paducah around 9:15 am Friday. Police say Rittenberry was going west on Blandville Road when for unknown reasons, the semi dropped off the right shoulder of the road. Rittenberry was not able to get the semi on the road before overturning.


Construction Worker Electrocuted

July 2, MUSKOGEE, OK - 38 year old Charles Emmitt "Chad" Pritchard III was killed Friday afternoon while painting a house at 723 Callahan St., said his sister. “He was moving a ladder and it hit an electric line,” she said. Pritchard was a carpenter and had lived in the Muskogee area for the past year.


Crash Results in Three Deaths

July 2, KANSAS CITY, MO - in a two vehicle collision that happened Friday, 44 year old Brian Lee and 32 year old Anthony McBride, both of Grandview, were killed when their work van was hit by a dump truck. The driver of the dump truck, 53 year old Stephen R. Froggee was hurt in the collision and has since died. The collision happened at about 5:44 a.m. when one of the vehicles may have run a red light, while the other was traveling at a high rate of speed, investigators said.


Fourth Worker Killed in Rampage Not Previously Named

June 8, CORAL GABLES, FL - in the June 13th posting of the Weekly Toll one victim of a deadly shooting spree was inadvertently not named in that post. 56 year old Lavina M. Fonseca was the 4th victim in the tragic incident. Gerardo Regaldo of Coral Gables entered the Yoyito Restaurant in Hialeah early last month and shot and killed his wife Liazan Molina in the parking lot. He then entered the restaurant and opened fire on several women inside.


Young Man Dies in Heat Related Incident

July 7, CHATTANOOGA, TN - 25 year old Cody Fortner, a volunteer Firefighter, was helping his step father in his side business of mowing lawns. He wasn't feeling well before getting started but decided to continue. After mowing three lawns he had his step father, Gale Tinsley, take him back to the house where he died after Tinsley left again to finish work. When Tinsley returned to the house, he found Fortner not breathing in the living room. Medical professionals at the Hamilton County Medical Examiner's office are searching for answers. Fortner had asthma and high blood pressure. He added people with high blood pressure must be mindful of the side effects medication can have with extreme heat.


UPDATE: Railroad worker killed in New Albany


June 2, NEW ALBANY, NY - 24 year old Jeffrey Dale Thompson of Myrtle died from head trauma Wednesday morning while on the job with the Mississippi-Tennessee Railroad. “They were using a backhoe to load a generator,” said New Albany Police Chief David Grisham. “Apparently something went wrong, and the generator slipped and pinned him between it and the railroad car.”

Monday, July 05, 2010

Weekly Toll: Death in the American Workplace

Five Killed in Crash of Air Ambulance in Texas

July 4, ALPINE, TX - Nurses 49 year old Sharon Falkener of Fort Davis and 42 year old Tracy Chambers of Alpine were killed along with 59 year old Ted Caffarel, pilot of an airplane serving as an ambulance when it crashed shortly after taking off from a West Texas airport early Sunday, killing all five people on board, officials said. The air ambulance was transporting a man and his wife en route to Midland when it crashed in a field, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Mr. Caffarel was apparently trying to make an emergency landing in the muddy field when the plane hit a rut, overturned and burned, the public safety agency said.


Business Owner Killed at His Car Shop

July 4, HAWK POINT, MO - 49 year old Jeff Smith,owner of Smitty's Garage was attacked at his business Saturday night. Major Case Squad Detectives are not saying how Smith died, but do believe the attack happened around 11:30 p.m. So far no arrests. Investigators are interviewing witnesses.


Man Dies From Injuries Sustained in Construction Accident

July 4, WAVERLY, IA - 51 year old Larry L. Reisner of Oelwein has died after being injured in a job-related accident last week in Waverly. Reisner was injured Thursday at the site of the new middle school for the Waverly-Shell Rock School District. A brace that was supporting a cast concrete wall struck him in the head, according to earlier reports. Reisner passed away Saturday morning at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, according to information from Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein.


Firefighter Dies in Massive Fire at Egg Farm

July 4, WHARTON, TX - 30 year old Captain Thomas Araguz III, an 11 year veteran with the Wharton Volunteer Fire Department died Saturday after being trapped by falling debris and in a warehouse at the Maxim Egg Farm on FM 442 in Wharton County. Three firefighters became trapped by falling debris and in a warehouse at the egg farm. Two of the firefighters were rescued and transported to the hospital with minor burns and smoke inhalation. Araguz leaves behind family members and two small children.


Harrison Co. Councilman Killed in Farm Accident

July 3, LOUISVILLE, KY - William Nichols has died after being hurt in a farm accident that left him with burns over 80 percent of his body. Lanesville fire chief Anthony Combs says Nichols was driving a forklift on his farm Thursday evening when he ran over a gas can in the driveway. The forklift caught on fire, leaving Nichols with second- and third-degree burns. He was flown to University Hospital in Louisville, but died Friday morning.


Diver Dies Performing Maintenance on Oil Rig

July 3, CHICAGO, IL - an unidentified employee of Veolia Environmental Services of North America, performing maintenance on a client's rig in the Gulf of Mexico, unrelated to the massive oil spill, has died after an underwater accident. The company says the diver was working at a depth of about 250 feet from the company's Normand Clipper vessel when "what might have been an underwater explosion" happened about 11:30 a.m. CDT Friday.


Man Dies After Train Yard Accident

July 2, MERIDIAN, MS - Meosha Keepsake Amerson of Dallas, TX, an employee with Norfolk-Southern Railroad, died early Friday morning in a Meridian hospital from injuries he suffered when a train rolled over him near the area of 45th Avenue and Third Street. Cobler said the accident occurred at about 10:50 p.m. A spokesman with the Railroad Division of the Mississippi Department of Transportation said late Friday afternoon that Amerson was a conductor working with a switching crew when the incident occurred.


Landscaper Dies After Being Hit by Car

July 2, WESTERLY, RI - 39 year old Nelson Tavares of Pawcatuck, CT was struck at about 1:45pm Thursday while landscaping a lawn on Watch Hill Road. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Chief Edward Mello said the driver who struck Tavares, who is 64 years old, apparently suffered a medical condition and was taken to Westerly Hospital for treatment.


MO Woman Killed in Tractor Accident

July 2, POWELL, MO - 42 year old Elizabeth Merriman of Rocky Comfort died after the tractor she was driving went off the side of the road and hit a tree. She was pronounced dead at the scene.


Man Fatally Shot at Troy Gas Station

July 2, TROY, MI - a 33 year old man from Sylvan Lake was shot at his Troy gas station following a dispute with another man, Troy police said. Another employee told police the suspect entered a back room at the station, where the victim was meeting with another person. About 2 minutes later, she said, she heard multiple gunshots. She said the suspect then walked out and told her to call 911. Police said the death was due to a dispute, not a robbery.


Another Massey Energy Miner Dies

July 1, POCAHONTAS, WV - an unidentified electrician working at the Pocahontas Mine in Greenbriar County was killed when he was run over by a shuttle car shortly after 8:30AM Thursday morning. He is the 40th coal miner to die on the job in the United States this year.


Pipeline Worker in FL Killed

July 1, ATMORE, FL - 39 year old Stephen Mark Johnson of Tuscaloosa was killed Thursday afternoon in a pipeline accident. According to Escambia County Sheriff Chief Deputy Mike Lambert, the man was killed when a pipe kicked around and pinned him between that pipe and another section. The closest equipment that could free him was about a quarter of a mile away. Johnson was pronounced deceased at the scene.


Worker Electrocuted in Georgia

July 1, MARTINEZ, GA - 45 year old William Brett Ward of Hoschton, an electrician for Utility Lines Construction Services died today after he was struck in the face by a live wire in front of a Martinez residence. Ward was hit in the forehead by a live wire at about 10:30 a.m. while working on a ground transformer at a home Columbia County Coroner Vernon Collins said. “(He) was pulling a wire into it and apparently his head came in contact with the current, and it electrocuted him,” Collins said. was wearing protective gloves and rubber sleeves when the wire hit him, Collins said.


Man Killed in Road Construction Accident

July 1, MARSHALL, TX - an unnamed construction worker was killed Wednesday morning after a driver of a truck inadvertently backed into him. Citing information from a witness at the scene, Marshall Fire Department Battalion Chief David Dean said the victim got caught under the rear of the vehicle after it had attempted to lay down a new line of asphalt. Dean said he could not release the name of the victim, who is from Marshall, because he was unsure if his family had been notified.


Migrant Worker Died in Accident

July 1, SHERMAN TWP, ME - 28 year old Gerardo Perez-Rameriz of Oaxaca, Mexico died Tuesday in a potato field near Shimmel Road and U.S. 12. Police said Perez-Rameriz was walking in the field removing non-potato plants. He came into contact with a section of irrigation equipment that was on and had been actively running for just over an hour. Police believe Perez-Rameriz may have been electrocuted.


Worker Killed at ND Wind Turbine Blade Factory

July 1, GRAND FORKS, ND - 42 year old Joseph Schaff of East Grand Forks, MN died after being pinned between two cranes. Authorities say Schaff was injured Thursday morning at LM Wind Power and taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Police say it appears Schaff had been on a lift repairing a piece of equipment when he suffered a "crushing injury" to his upper body.


Man Dies in Paper Mill Accident

June 30, LEWISTON, ID - 35 year old John A. Bergen III died at a Lewiston paper mill, and authorities are investigating whether he fell victim to an industrial accident, a health issue or a combination of the two. He died Wednesday night while working on a paperboard machine at Clearwater Paper Corp. KLEW-TV reports Bergen apparently fell while on the job, struck his head and landed on a conveyor belt that dropped him into a 1,500-gallon pulp vat. “We want to do a thorough investigation so there’s no speculation,” said Matt Van Vleet, a spokesman for Clearwater Paper, adding there was no fire or explosion.


Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks' Ranger Killed in Line of Duty

June 30, PRATT, KS - 32 year old Luke D. Nihart of rural St. George was killed early on Saturday, June 26, in an ATV accident while working at the park. In a related article it describes that Nihart was entering the parking area of a Department of Wildlife and Parks office when his ATV flipped over at approximately 3:20 am. He was transported to Mercy Regional Health Center where he succumbed to his injuries two hours later.


TX DOT Inspector Struck and Killed Along Roadway

June 30, HARRISON CO., TX - 60 year old Tony Overhulz, an inspector for the TX Dept. of Transportation was killed Wednesday when he was hit by a truck at a work site in Harrison County. Overhultz was working on the eastbound lane of Interstate 20 Wednesday morning when a truck hauling paving materials backed over him, highway department officials said.


Siding Worker Killed in Fall

June 30, CHATTANOOGA, TN - 71 year old Joseph Cleveland Wilson died when he fell about 30 feet Wednesday morning while working on New Monumental Baptist Church.


Worker Killed in Train Accident


June 30, AMAZONIA, MO - 52 year old Timothy Conkle was killed on the job when a train hit a dump truck that his him Tuesday afternoon. Conkle was controlling traffic on a railroad that led to the Uehlin Quarry said Sgt. Mark Richardson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. At one point, Mr. Conkle gave the go-ahead to a 1998 Kenworth dump truck when his vision was obstructed by an eastbound train. As the truck was crossing the tracks, a westbound train struck it head-on, causing it to slide and run over Mr. Conkle. The truck came to rest on train tracks, while the train came to a controlled stop about a quarter of a mile away.


Man Killed in Farm Implement Accident

June 30, MARTIN, SD - 20 year old Conner Sell has been identified as the 20-year-old man killed in a farm implement accident on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Chief Everett Little Whiteman of the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety confirmed that Sell was the victim of the farm accident late Monday night. The man had become entangled in a hay baler. Details of the accident were not available, Little Whiteman said.


Man Dies On Tractor, Hit by Train

June 30, CHIPPEWA CO., WI - 40 year old Craig M. Brown of Colfax was killed Tuesday afternoon when a tractor he was driving was struck by a freight train in the town of Howard. Brown was traveling north on 13th Street, just south of County N, in the far western edge of Chippewa County, near the Dunn County line. As he was crossing the railroad tracks, his tractor was hit from the right by a train that was traveling east.


Two Construction Workers Hit and Killed in OK

June 30, YUKON, OK - 48 year old Salvador Hernandez and his 20 year old nephew Jose Hernandez, both of Wichita, KS were killed Wednesday evening when a sport utility vehicle went out of control and struck them along Interstate 40 at Cimarron Road just west of Yukon. An OHP spokesman said a 61 yr old woman of Hinton was driving a small SUV west on I-40 about 6:45 p.m. when the vehicle left the road, traveled 50 yards and into a ditch before striking the workers. The nephew's father also was working in the construction zone and saw the accident.


Scotts Mill Man Dies After Accident With Tractor

June 30, SCOTTS MILL, OR - 67 year old Dennis "Butch" Christensen died Tuesday after he was pinned under his tractor in what appeared to be an accident, officials said. Deputy Todd Bay was told by family members that Christensen had taken a Caterpillar D9 tractor to a remote part of their property to remove a log that was blocking access to a property road. Bay determined that Christensen was apparently trying to pull the log with the tractor when it reared up in a “wheelie” and fell onto him.


One Dead After Two Boats Collide Near Winter Harbor

June 30, WINTER HARBOR, ME - 71 year old Frank Jordan died when he was thrown into the water when his vessel, the Linda Diane, collided with the Master Simon near Pond Island, off the western side of Schoodic Point, according to the Coast Guard. Phil Torrey, captain of Master Simon, and his sternman were able to pull Jordan and his sternman from the water but could not revive Jordan. The Linda Diane sunk where it was struck, in about 85 feet of water, the Coast Guard indicated. According to officials, the collision appears to have happened accidentally as the captains and crewmen were absorbed in tasks on deck and failed to notice that the two boats were approaching each other.


Tehlequah Man Killed in Tractor Accident

June 30, TEHLEQUAH, OK - 73 year old Billy Vincent died today after an accident involving a tractor near the Woodall community north of Zeb in Cherokee County, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported. Vincent was mowing a pasture on private property about 9:45 a.m. when he attempted to push a large tree limb with the tractor's front-end loader, troopers said. The limb recoiled and hit him in the head and neck.


Deadly Construction Accident in Las Vegas

June 29, LAS VEGAS, NV - 34 year old Tobin Talbott of North Las Vegas died Tuesday morning following an accident on the south side of the valley. The accident happened around 6:40 a.m. at Blue Diamond and I-15. The interchanges are being reconstructed in that area. Details of the accident haven’t been released, but the coroner’s office said Talbott died of multiple blunt force injuries from heavy machinery.


Contractor Killed in Work Site Accident

June 29, JEFFERSON, ME - 48 year old Peter Peaslee is dead after a large pine tree fell onto the cab of his excavator. Lt. Michael Murphy of the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department said today that Peaslee was killed last Thursday while he was clearing land owned by Michael Cassella. Murphy said Peaslee is a self-employed contractor who was working alone when a pine tree he was attempting to knock down fell back onto the excavator cab. He died at the scene.


Worker Killed in Granger Tree Accident

June 29, GRANGER, IN - 34 year old Shannon Magezi was killed while doing tree work in a Granger neighborhood Monday afternoon, police said. Magezi, an employee of Trees Are Us, was struck in the head by a large tree branch around 4:30 p.m., said St. Joseph County police spokesman Sgt. William Redman in a news release. She had been walking underneath the tree while other workers were cutting off a limb. The limb separated and fell on top of her, Redman said. The company was doing work on trees that were damaged during recent thunderstorms.


Electrocution Kills Comcast Worker in PA

June 29, MARPLE, PA - an unidentified worker was killed after being electrocuted on Sproul Road near Mary Lane and Cedar Grove Road Tuesday afternoon, officials confirmed. Details about the employee, such as age, name and length of service, were not released although officials said the incident occurred around 3 p.m. UPDATE: Police have identified 38 year old John Adams of Broomall as the Comcast worker killed.


Man Killed in Farm Tractor Accident

June 29, LINDSEY, OH - 59 year old Dale Patrick Wagner spent the last minutes of his life in the arms of his brother. They were working in one of Wagner's fields off County Road 106 on Saturday when Wagner's tractor ran over him. His wounds were fatal. Wagner, who owned three farms, had just fueled the tractor and was having trouble with the starter, Hirt said. He used a wire to jump start it. "Dale failed to realize the tractor was in forward gear," he said. "As Dale started the tractor, it lunged forward." He was standing next to the tractor and tried to jump out of the way, Hirt said. His foot, however, was caught by the rear tire, and he was pulled under the machine.


Worker Falls To His Death At Grain Elevator

June 29, WESKAN, KS - 21 year old Brett Spressor died after a grain elevator accident Tuesday afternoon in the town of Weskan. Wallace County Sheriff Larry Townsend says Spressor stepped into a hole on the top of the grain elevator. He fell about 50 feet to his death. He was an employee of the United Plains Ag Co-op, where the accident happened. Spressor leaves behind a 3-week-old child and a wife of one year. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the families," said Townsend.


Two Florida Officers Die After Traffic Stop Shooting

June 29, TAMPA,FL - 31 year old Jeffrey Kocab and 31 year old Dave Curtis were shot during an early-morning traffic stop Tuesday. Curtis had pulled over a vehicle and found its male passenger had an outstanding warrant for "minor violations," Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor told reporters Tuesday. Kocab responded to back Curtis up, and "as they put their hands on the suspect, the suspect spun around, pulled a firearm and shot both police officers," she said. Kocab's wife is due to give birth next week, while Curtis leaves behind his wife and four sons, ages 9, 6, 5 and 8 months.


Construction Worker Crushed Under Soil Compactor

June 29, ROCHESTER, MN - 35 year old Philip Soukup died Monday afternoon, after he was pinned under a soil compacter that tipped over at a work site on East Circle Drive Northeast in Rochester, near Mayo Clinic's northeast clinic. Workers said the victim had been operating a soil compactor construction vehicle when one of the wheels went down a partial embankment and rolled, throwing Soukup underneath the vehicle. Before first responders arrived, workers used a tractor equipped with a backhoe to lift the soil compactor off the man, Police Lt. Casey Moilanen said.


Semi Driver Killed When Truck Falls Off Bridge Overpass

June 29, GRAND RAPIDS, MI - 40 year old Samuel Mustafa Kofi of St. Paul, MN was killed Monday when his truck fell off the overpass ramp from southbound U.S. 131 to westbound I-196. Michigan State Police say the truck was making the turn onto westbound I-196 when it went over the side, falling onto a grassy space along Turner Ave. NW, across from the Union Square condominiums. Police say the driver was not wearing a seatbelt. They believe he was ejected from the cab of the truck as it went over the side of the overpass, then was hit by the cab when it fell to the ground.


Worker Killed at IL Printing Plant

June 29, CAROL STREAM, IL - Jorge Espinoza of Addison was killed early Saturday morning after being crushed by a load of paper at Berlin Industries in Carol Stream. Upon arrival, Don Lay said fire personnel found Espinosa’s upper body was partially trapped under a large load of paper and could not be freed because of the compactness of the paper and the weight of the load. The portion of Espinosa that was not trapped was examined by paramedics and determined to be non-responsive, with no vital signs.


Taxi Driver Stabbed to Death

June 28, SHREVEPORT, LA - 51 year old Timothy Guyton was stabbed to death today during an attack by another man in Shreveport. Shreveport police said they got a call about 2:45 a.m. that a man was beating another person in an Action Taxi on Phoenix Street. Patrol officers arrived to find the taxi and the victim on nearby Holcomb Street, which is off North Hearne Avenue. Guyton had been stabbed repeatedly, police said. Police are looking for the suspect.


Woman Found Dead in Realty Office

June 28, PHOENIX, AZ - 50 year old Blanca Acevedo was found dead inside a burned out real estate office Sunday. Phoenix Police are treating the discovery as a homicide. Several people driving in the area at about 5 p.m. Sunday noticed smoke coming from a single-story house, which had been converted into the office of Nu-Way Realty. Firefighters vented the roof and attacked the flames, and later discovered a woman in the midst of the heavy smoke. They pulled her out of the building, but paramedics said she could not be revived. A medical examiner will determine how the woman died.


Worker Dies Following Fall From Roof

June 28, ABILENE, TX - 47 year old Ricky Kite, a long time employee with Smith Roofing, died Sunday in an Abilene hospital after he fell off the roof Thursday of the old Montgomery Ward building. Kite was doing roofing work on the building on Center Avenue when he fell, Marion Smith of Smith Roofing said.


IDOT Worker Collapses on Bishop Ford Freeway

June 28, CHICAGO, IL - 68 year old Clifton Jones of Blue Island was found inside a vehicle near South Holland on the Bishop Ford Freeway after possibly suffering a heart attack and he died shortly afterward Monday morning. About 9 a.m. troopers responded to the northbound I-94 and found an IDOT worker who had pulled over after he possibly suffered a heart attack, according to Illinois State Police District Chicago Master Sgt. Joe Donley.


Port Truck Driver Death is Oakland Homicide

June 28, OAKLAND, CA - 58 year old Jie Tao Liu of San Jose, CA was found unconscious Thursday on a busy street at the Port of Oakland. An autopsy Monday determined that Liu died of blunt force trauma to the head, but investigators still are trying to learn more about how Liu sustained his injuries, Sgt. Alex Perez said. "It appears he may have been involved in some kind of confrontation with another driver, but we are not sure over what," Perez said. "It might have been a minor accident." Liu was an owner-operator of his own truck, which he used to haul cargo to and from the port.


Cab Driver Shot and Killed in NJ

June 27, ELIZABETH, NJ - 58 year old Mohammad Younus was shot to death in his vehicle and another person inside was wounded on Saturday night, the Union County Prosecutor's office said today. Younus was shot at 9:08 p.m., at the corner of 3rd and Pine streets, in a residential neighborhood, the prosecutor's office said. He died at the scene. Younus would have turned 59 day. The Union County Homicide Task Force is investigating the shooting.


CHP Officer Killed in Paso Robles

June 27, PASO ROBLES, CA - 47 year old Brett Oswald was killed Sunday evening in Paso Robles, Calif., less than 24 hours after a CHP officer was killed while on duty in Barstow, officials said. Officer Oswald was hit by a car after responding to a report at 5:47 p.m. of an abandoned vehicle blocking River Road near Spanish Camp Road. He was waiting for a tow truck to remove the vehicle when a Toyota Corolla sped around a curve at a high rate of speed and collided with his cruiser, said CHP Officer Mike Muell. Oswald was thrown into the air and landed on the Corolla. He was taken to Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton, where he was pronounced dead at 8:30 p.m.


Carnival Worker Dies After Being Crushed by Ferris Wheel

June 27, WEST VALLEY CITY, UT - 41 year old Carl Nutsch of Pocotello, ID was working a carnival when he was pinned between a cross beam and the drive wheels of the Ferris wheel about 12:30 a.m. Monday. He was working a weekend carnival in West Valley City, UT.


Idaho Man Dies in Logging Accident

June 25, LEWISTON, ID - 62 year old Leonard C. Barton of Stites has died from injuries suffered in a logging accident. Nez Perce County officials say Barton suffered numerous injuries Wednesday afternoon in an accident near Waha Road south of Lewiston. He was taken to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, where he later died. Nez Perce County officials did not say how Barton was fatally injured.


Arkansas Man Dies in Louisiana Truck Accident

June 25, BOSSIER, LA - 41 year old Gregory McWilliams of Magnolia, AR died after losing control of the dump truck he was driving in Bossier Parish. State police tells The Times that McWilliams was driving a truck loaded with gravel north on La. Highway 157 Thursday when the truck ran off the right side of the road. McWilliams apparently overcorrected, causing the truck to start sliding. Troopers say the gravel shifted and the truck rolled onto the passenger side, hit a bridge guard rail and slid off the side of the road before stopping in a ditch.


Man Killed in Jefferson County Industrial Accident

June 14, JEFFERSON COUNTY, AL - 43 year old Mark Allen Jackson of West Blocton was supervising the loading of 5,000-pound pipes onto a flat bed trailer when one of them rolled off the bed and onto him, said Jefferson County sheriff's Chief Deputy Randy Christian.