Sunday, October 26, 2008

Weekly Toll- Sept 11- 18, 2008

Clerk dies leaving work

SEPT 18, NEW ORLEANS, LA - Damien Verrett, 29, a Clerk at Pelican Ice, was killed Thursday afternoon as he was leaving. Witnesses said 3 men jumped from an SUV in the parking lot and opened fire on Mr. Verrett. "Somebody's life got taken on the job," said a neighbor who declined to be identified. "That is ridiculous. That's sad."

Cab driver found shot
SEPT 17, CLEARWATER, FL - Police are investigating the death of taxi driver Jack Lagrand, 50, of Clearwater, who was found dead this morning in a Yellow Cab parked behind the Hertz Rental car company. Police believe Lagrand was murdered some time between 1 and 2 this morning. Surveillance videos have been confiscated from businesses close to the crime scene for evaluation. Mr. Lagrand is the third cabdriver killed this year in Pinellas County.


Explosion kills worker

SEPT 17, EAST CAMDEN, AR - An "unplanned ignition of a rocket motor" at the Aerojet plant in East Camden claimed the life of Maurice Mitchell, 29. Mr. Mitchell was working on the motor in a bay area when the motor exploded and caught fire. Authorities believe he was killed in the explosion, not the fire. He is survived by his wife-- also an employee at the plant-- who is 4 months pregnant.



Truck driver killed in crash

SEPT 17, CARROLL TWP, OH - A fiery crash on Ohio-2 occurred just after 9 am this morning when a tractor trailer owned by Ohio Bulk Transfer, Inc., struck an Aunt Millie's bakery truck that had stopped in a construction zone by an ODOT worker who was flagging traffic. On impact, the tractor trailer exploded and careened into a ditch. The driver, Patrick F. Ardito, 55, was trapped inside the burning cab.


Worker electrocuted at nuclear plant
SEPT 17, MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Ricky D. Cummings, 47, of Delano, died Wednesday morning just outside the gates of the nuclear plant in Monticello. Officials say Mr. Delano came in contact with a power line, and his death was caused by thermal injuries due to electrocution.



Trash Worker Killed, Another Injured In Crash

SEPT 17, EDINBURGH, ID - A Rumpke trash worker was killed and another was injured early Wednesday morning when they were struck by a motorist in southern Johnson County. The workers were out of their truck at the time of the crash, said Edinburgh Police Chief Patrick Pankey. Investigators said the driver of a car was not able to see the workers because of the sun.

Man dies after falling through skylight
SEPT 17, CHICAGO, IL - A 43-year-old man died Sunday, three days after crashing through a skylight while working on the roof of a Southwest Side building. Krzyszto Zelasko, of Chicago's Southwest Side,was initially taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in “extremely critical” condition. He was pronounced dead Sunday at Mount Sinai Hospital at 9:35 a.m of head injuries sustained in the fall. His death has been ruled an accident, according the medical examiner's office.

Worker dies after being thrown from bucket truck

SEPT 16, KOKOMO, ID - City employee Jeff Berry, 45, was pronounced dead today after he was removed from life support. Mr. Berry was in a bucket lift changing a light bulb in traffic light last week when a tractor-trailer struck his truck, throwing him 30 feet to the pavement. He sustained a severe head injury and was flown by helicopter to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.



Farmer dies in crash
SEPT 16, MAYWOOD, NE - A young farmer, Austin Fischer, 24, of Maywood was killed this afternoon when his car was struck by a pick-up truck. Police believe he was checking his mailbox and was pulling back onto the road when the incident occurred.



Utility worker killed in Mercer while making repairs


SEPT 16, PITTSBURGH, PA - A utility worker making repairs in Mercer County died yesterday after he stepped on a live wire. Robert Lempke, 43, of Columbia, NJ, an employee for New Jersey Central Power and Light, was pronounced dead at UPMC Greenville, Mercer County, police said. His death was ruled accidental.



Construction worker killed by saw



SEPT 16, MOUNT VERNON, OH - Subcontracted construction worker Roger A. Ferenbaugh, 54, of Mount Vernon, was killed today while working at Rolls-Royce Energy Systems. Investigators believe Mr. Ferenbaugh was trying to cut through concrete pipe with a saw when its blade kicked back and struck him in the neck. The investigation is ongoing.

Municipal employee killed by mower


SEPT 15, HOLLAND TWP, PA - John Dinmore, 79, of Upper Black Eddy, had lunch with a friend today before heading off to mow 2 acres of land at Riegel Ridge Community Center. Investigators believe Mr. Dinmore may have been replacing a blade in the parked ride-on mower when the mower fell on top of him. Friends say Mr. Dinmore had worked at the community center for the past 6 years. "When I asked him about retirement, he said he never really gave it any thought at all," said Holland Mayor Bernie O'Brien, who was at the scene of the accident. Councilman and friend John DiSarro described Mr. Dinmore as "a darn good man."

State employee killed in crash


SEPT 15, GALES CREEK, OR - Kevin A. Leader, 46, of Corvallis, was driving his state vehicle for a work assignment when he lost control and crashed into a utility pole. Mr. Leader, an employee of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, was wearing a seatbelt, but did not survive. He was pronounced dead at the scene.



Construction worker falls to death

SEPT 15, MOORESVILLE, NC - An employee of SSC Construction Company lost his life today at a construction site near Mooresville. Investigators say Ruben Gomez, 56, was working on scaffolding when he lost his balance and fell about 20 feet. He was killed insantly.

Police sargeant killed in crash

SEPT 14, LATIMORE TWP, PA - Michael C. Weigand, 25, a part-time police sargeant for the Latimore Township Department and full-time patrolman with Eastern Adams Regional Police Department was killed Sunday morning while participating in a Blue Knights' benefit ride to raise money for a local park. Police say Mr. Weigan's motorcycle was struck by a truck that had skidded into the westbound lane. Said Township Supervisor Daniel Worley: "He was an outstanding person, loved by everyone. It is a tremendous loss not only to his family, but to the people who worked with him." Mr. Weigand, a conscientous police officer and avid motorcylist, is survived by his wife, Amanda and three year old daughter, Lanie. "He could bring sunshine on a rainy day," said a fellow patrolman.




Worker killed in fall

SEPT 14, LOS ANGELES, CA -- Hermelindo Montes Valencia, 56, of Anaheim died today from injuries sustained September 9th while replacing a skylight on top of the Huntington Beach transfer station. According to Ron Shankman, chairman of the Rainbow Disposal Co., Mr. Valencia was wearing a safety harness but unhooked it. Shortly thereafter, he fell through a chute and onto a concrete floor. "It was a tragic accident that was caused by human error," Shenkman said. "Why he unhooked the safety harness, we do not know."



Cook shot at area restaurant

SEPT 13, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -- Coworkers say cook Alfredo Chavez seemed distracted Monday morning at Jimmy's Roundup Cafe- like he was expecting someone . Around 6:30 am, two masked men arrived, took Mr. Chavez to the east entrance, and shot him in the face in front of his coworkers. Friends say Mr. Chavez was a "nice, sweet young guy, real quiet, shy and sensitive.” Survived by his wife, who is pregnant, and two young children, Mr. Chavez was working two full-time jobs so that he could save up and move back to Mexico.


Construction worker dies after 6-foot fall in Morton Grove
SEPT 12, CHICAGO, IL - Further investigation is needed to show what caused the death of a Chicago construction worker who fell 6 feet from a scaffolding outside a home in Morton Grove Thursday. Marrecin Waz, 30, landed on his head and broke his neck when he fell as he and his crew were tuck-pointing a home. Mr. Waz may have had a medical condition that caused the fall. An autopsy later Friday could not determine an exact cause of death.

Cell tower technician falls to death

SEPT 12, PORT ANGELES, WA- An employee of Emerald Wireless died just after midnight this morning after falling 40 feet from a cell-phone tower atop the Elks Navel Lodge building. Jeremy Combs, 33, of Bonney Lake, was still alive when paramedics arrived at the scene, but was pronounced dead not long after at Olympic Medical Center. Mr. Combs is survived by his wife and two children. UPDATE, SEPT 19: Authorities have determined that Mr. Combs was not wearing safety equipment when he fell to his death.

Worker killed in tank explosion
SEPT 12, AZTEC, NM - Around 1:20 pm this afternoon at a well site in San Juan County, a semi truck carrying a nitrogen tank exploded. A 21-year old worker, whose name has not yet been released, was killed in the explosion. The incident is being investigated.



4 die in trench collapse

SEPT 12, VERDEL, NE -- Four men were working on a drainage trench this morning when part of it collapsed, trapping Travis Lunn, 24, of O'Neill. Lunn's three coworkers tried to save him but in the process also became trapped. Lunn, David Peterson, 35, of O'Neill, Gary Forsch, 61, of Spencer, and Brad Kelly, 43, of Lynch, all lost their lives in the incident. Investigators said flooding of the Missouri River created the potential for erosion.



Sanitation worker struck by truck

SEPT 11, MARKSVILLE, LA - A sanitation worker was killed early Thursday morning after being struck by a pickup truck. Tony L. Kelley, 32, of Marksville, was stopped partially in a northbound lane and partially in the shoulder when the incident occurred. Mr. Kelley was pronounced dead at the scene. State Police Trooper Scott Moreau said that the accident was in no way the fault of the driver.


Cab Driver Killed in Hollywood Crash Identified

SEPT 11, HOLLYWOOD, CA - A taxi driver was killed early this morning in a four-car collision that happened as area bars and nightclubs were clearing out. The taxi driver, Karen Karapeytan, 33, of Garden Grove, was freed from the cab but did not survive transport to a hospital.


Cab driver shot to death
SEPT 11 KANSAS CITY, MO - A taxi driver was driving this morning when he spotted a cab owned by the same company in the middle of the street. Inside, he discovered cab driver Terrence Williams, 44, slumped over the wheel. Mr. Williams had apparently suffered a gunshot wound to the head.


Worker killed in scaffold collapse
SEPT 11, NEW YORK, NY - A scaffold-rigging foreman, Miguel Rodriquez, 38, was killed today in a scaffold collapse while working on a building in Manhattan. Investigators say his safety harness was not tethered to the building. Update: SEPT 15- Two employees of Classic Painting & Restoration, Inc.-- including the owner-- have been arrested in the aftermath of the incident. In violation of building codes, the company did not have a certified rigging foreman on site when the incident occurred, and the owner reportedly gave a foreman's card to an uncertified worker and asked him to pose as certified foreman if asked. Both were charged with criminal impersonation on Sept 12th.

Firefighter dies two weeks after injuries

SEPT 11, HAPPY CAMP, CA - Firefighter Curtis Hillman, 77, of Happy Camp, died today at Mercy Medical Center in Redding. Mr. Hillman sustained head injuries on August 25 when he either jumped or fell off of a road grader in the Six Rivers National Forest, near the Oregon Border. A member of the Karuk Indian tribe, Mr. Hillman was the 15th firefighter to die from job-related causes this summer.

2 comments:

Bucket Trucks said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Boom Truck said...

Very sad stories...Thanks for sharing.

Print Page