Weekly Toll

Following the deadly incident at the Bayer CropScience facility in the Kanawha Valley, W.Va.

Ken Ward Jr. reported, "OSHA inspectors issued citations for 13 serious and two repeat violations discovered during a six-month probe of the Aug. 28, 2008, explosion and fire that killed plant workers Barry Withrow and Bill Oxley. Among other things OSHA alleged poorly planned operating procedures, flawed emergency systems and faulty employee training led to a runaway reaction that caused the fatal explosion."

Jeff Johnson of Chemical & Engineering News had written an article March 10, 2009 entitled
Safety Board Retreats - Citing antiterrorism law, Bayer pressures Chemical Safety Board to cancel public meeting on fatal accident (it really is a must read all or Jeffs work is great).

You may also view the 911 calls.



Here you will find out that Bayer would not even disclose to the dispatchers what the incident was, what chemicals they may be dealing with or if there may be further complications upon arriving on the scene.

Well in the article it stated "CSB Chairman John Bresland and set up a Feb. 12 conference at the board's Washington, D.C., headquarters. There, they warned CSB not to reveal details of the accident or the facility's layout at the community meeting." and goes on with... "This is where it gets a little strange," Bresland tells C&EN. To justify their request, Bayer attorneys cited the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, an antiterrorism law that requires companies with plants on waterways to develop security plans to minimize the threat of a terrorist attack. Part of the plans can be designated as "sensitive security information" that can be disseminated only on a "need-to-know basis." Enforcement of the act is overseen by the Coast Guard and covers some 3,200 facilities, including 320 chemical and petrochemical facilities. Among those facilities is the Bayer plant.

Well the point is that Bayer doesn't feel anyone has the right to know and this incident just blew my mind. So I checked around to see who was doing what and we all cosigned a letter written to CSB Chairman John Bresland urging him to follow up with his meeting because this community deserves to know what they are dealing with and what dangers are involved.

Bayer is still fighting this but the future plans are now.

*Chemical Safety Board hearing 4/23 (at WVSU in Institute) -- Pre-registration is not required, but to assure adequate seating attendees are encouraged to pre-register by emailing their names and affiliations to bayer@csb.gov by April 10.
*Congressional House Committee on Energy & Commerce hearing 4/21 (in DC)
*State Legislation (Senate Bill 279)
*Bhopal Survivor Tour to Institute 5/1 & 5/2

Several people were involved with a letter writing campaign and you can
Join to brainstorm on how to approach all that's happening right now!
If you would like to contribute and can not be there feel free to email someone at www.peopleconcernedaboutmic.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Tuesday, March 31st @ 6:30
WVSU Davis Fine Arts Building
(unless otherwise notified)
(please RSVP with me so I can ensure we have enough seats)
www.peopleconcernedaboutmic.com

Just a little about your Right to Know that is if we still have that right!

In 1986 the congress Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).

EPCRA was established to gain knowledge of toxic and hazardous chemicals and is applied to Emergency response, worker and the community.
Located on the EPA’s http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/content/lawsregs/epcraover.htm website are a few of the EPCRA provisions.

Sections 301 to 303. Emergency Planning Local governments are required to prepare chemical emergency response plans, and to review plans at least annually. State governments are required to oversee and coordinate local planning efforts. Facilities that maintain Extremely Hazardous Substances (EHSs) on-site in quantities greater than corresponding Threshold Planning Quantities (TPQs) must cooperate in emergency plan preparation.

Section 304. Emergency Notification Facilities must immediately report accidental releases of EHS chemicals and "hazardous substances" in quantities greater than corresponding Reportable Quantities (RQs) defined under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) to state and local officials. Information about accidental chemical releases must be available to the public.

Sections 311 and 312. Community Right-to-Know Requirements Facilities manufacturing, processing, or storing designated hazardous chemicals must make Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) describing the properties and health effects of these chemicals available to state and local officials and local fire departments. Facilities must also report, to state and local officials and local fire departments, inventories of all on-site chemicals for which MSDSs exist. Information about chemical inventories at facilities and MSDSs must be available to the public.

Section 313. Toxics Release Inventory Facilities must complete and submit a Toxic Chemical Release Inventory Form annually for each of the more than 600 Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) chemicals that are manufactured or otherwise used above the applicable threshold quantities.

Join us at the 2009 Triangle Fire Commemoration

This story still gets to me every time I read it. A tragedy and it still happens today usually with cleaners that are in during the night shift. The companies are afraid they will steal so they lock them in at night. Yep there are regulations against it however some companies feel this doesn't apply to them.

To honor the women who died at the Triangle Fire and our continued fight for workers rights and workplace safety, we would like you to join us at the commemoration of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire -- a definitive event in the history of American labor and in the history of New York City.

Triangle Fire Commemoration
Friday, March 27, 2009 at 12 pm
New York City: Corner of Washington Place & Greene Street
For more information about the commemoration, please contact Ed Vargas at
212-265-7000.

To all concerned:

We Count!, a 9/11 Community Health Survey, arose out of efforts to document the impact of the 9/11 toxic air on our communities’ health and lives.
The government still refuses to fully acknowledge the health fall-out on residents, students and area workers who are suffering due to exposure to the 9/11 toxic air. No study has illustrated the extent or scope of health problems stemming from this exposure.

The only treatment currently available for residents, students and area workers (non first-responders) was created when community members came forward to demand it. Your participation in this survey is vital to ensure long-term health-care and monitoring for all those affected by the 9/11 toxic air.
Please fill out this survey to help us document the health and economic hardships we are facing.

If you would like to know the results of this survey and keep informed of 9/11-related health issues, you can contact the Beyond Ground Zero Network at (212) 358-0295 or 9/11 Environmental Action at (917) 647-7074.
Thank you for your time and collaboration!

Raleigh police investigate after group home worker found dead

March 29, Raleigh, North Carolina - Investigators have identified the body of a woman found dead inside a group home Friday morning. Police consider her death suspicious but have not ruled it a homicide. Rebecca Ezeoha Thompkins, 44, was found inside the Dickens Drive Group Home at 113 Dickens Drive about 6 a.m. Friday. Homicide detectives were called to the scene "because some of the circumstances of the death appeared to be potentially suspicious," police spokesman Jim Sughrue said in a written statement. Thompkins was a direct care worker who monitored residents at the home. Administrators at the home said little about Thompkins and her duties Saturday night.


Worker dies repairing Ferris wheel in Sacramento

March 28, Sacramento, California - An unidentified man died Saturday afternoon when parts of a Ferris wheel he was working on collapsed on him at a Florin area business. Another man working with him was taken to an area hospital with rib injuries, according to Sacramento Metro Fire. The two men were breaking down a Ferris wheel that had come in for repairs at a hydraulic repair facility in the 8500 block of Tioga Woods Way, said Capt. Christian Pebbles. Firefighters were called about 4 p.m. to extricate the body of the man who died from traumatic injuries, Pebbles said.


Neb. man killed in lumber yard accident

March 29, Scottsbluff, Nebraska - An employee of a Scottsbluff home improvement store is dead after merchandise in the store's lumber yard collapsed on him. Scotts Bluff County authorities identified the 24-year-old Menards worker killed shortly after 3 p.m. Saturday as Brad Soske (SOH-skee) of Scottsbluff. Customers near the accident scene said it appeared a band tying 1 of the bundles near the top of stack of garden ties came loose. Soske was standing at the base of the stack when two bundles fell on him.



Water plant employee dies in accident

March 27, Las Vegas, Nevada - A worker at the Clark County Water Reclamation District's treatment plant in the eastern Las Vegas Valley died in an accident on Friday. This is the first industrial accident resulting in the death of an employee in the district's 53-year history. The Clark County Coroner's Office identified the man as 33-year-old Mason Reyes of Henderson. The cause and manner of death have not been determined, a spokeswoman in the coroner's office said. At about 10:15 a.m. the man was performing emergency repairs on an 8-inch reclaimed water line at the main sewage treatment facility at 5857 E. Flamingo Road when an accident occurred, resulting in the employee's death, said county spokesman Erik Pappa.


Marianna man killed industrial accident

March 27, Dothan, Alabama - On Thursday, at approximately 3:00 a.m. Deputies responded to Spanish Trail Lumber in Cypress in reference to an industrial accidental death. It was learned the victim, Rufus Dudley, 48 years of age was struck by a 12 foot 2x4, after it was ejected from a planer machine. Dudley was struck in the upper torso and as a result died on the scene. The U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration was also contacted due to the incident being an industrial accident. The investigation is continuing by the Sheriff’s Office.


Crown Point boy killed in Griffith industrial accident

March 27, Gary, Indiana - A Crown Point boy died Thursday in an accident at his family's business, according to a spokesman from the Lake County Coroner's Office. Nathan Lundin, 12, of the 2600 block of Autumn Drive in Crown Point, was pronounced dead at Community Hospital in Munster at 2:39 p.m. from blunt force trauma to the head and body after being pinned by a steel object that fell from a moving forklift. The accident occurred at Upright Iron Works Inc., 1036 Reder Road, Griffith.


Father, Son Shot And Killed At Brooklyn Deli

March 26, Crown Heights, New York (WPIX) -- A Utica Avenue bodega in Crown Heights was the scene of a deadly robbery Wednesday night that left the owner and his son dead of gunshot wounds. Police say 50-year-old Mohammed Monsoor Abuzaid and his 18-year-old son Abdul Kareen Monsoor Abuzaid battled with the killers after they were led to the basement of the store. The father was shot in the head and died at the scene. His son was shot in the chest and died later at the hospital, according to authorities.



Local briefs: Construction worker dies after tractor strikes him

March 26, Fresno, California- A tractor backed over a Highway 99 construction worker about 9:45 a.m. Wednesday near Atwater, the California Highway Patrol reported. The equipment rolled over the worker's upper body and legs along Highway 99 at Atwater Boulevard. They said he was taken for hospital treatment and died later. The Merced County Sheriff's Office said the man was a 50-year-old Stockton resident.


Aberdeen Proving Ground worker dies in accident

March 26, Baltimore, Maryland - A contract employee at an Army research lab suffered cardiac arrest and died after an accident Wednesday, an Aberdeen Proving Ground spokesman said. Grat Blackburn was pronounced dead at 3:05 p.m. Wednesday, said George Mercer, the spokesman. The 1 p.m. accident was work related but Mercer said the man did go into cardiac arrest before being taken to Harford Memorial Hospital. Emergency personnel gave Blackburn CPR before he was taken to the hospital.


CCU employee dies in campus accident

March 26, Columbia, South Carolina - A Coastal Carolina University employee died Thursday from injuries received in a tree-cutting accident on campus. The incident happened around 2 p.m. According to a press release, the name of the deceased has not been released pending notification of next of kin.“The university community is deeply saddened by this loss of a precious life, ” said David A. DeCenzo, university president. “We send our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of our employee.”


Officials identify man struck and killed by forklift

March 25, Los Angeles, California - Officials Wednesday identified a man who was killed this week after he was hit by a forklift outside Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center. Andrew Guipanay Bagsiao,86 , of Los Angeles, was walking near the base of a steep hill near Biggy Street and Zonal Avenue about 2:20 p.m. Tuesday, when he was struck by a forklift driven by a medical center employee, officials said. The employee was not arrested, but Los Angeles Police Department Det. Felix Padilla said the incident was being investigated as a homicide and that charges could be filed. Padilla said a bin the employee was carrying on the forklift obscured his view.


Construction worker crushed by tractor on Highway 99

March 25, Merced, California - A 50-year-old construction worker died after he was crushed by a two-ton dirt grader Wednesday morning. The Stockton man, whose name hasn't been released, died at a Modesto hospital, sheriff's spokesman Tom MacKenzie said. He was bending over to pick up some debris at about 9:45 a.m. when he was knocked down and run over by a tractor, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Ed Banks said. The man, an employee with Bay City Construction, was with a crew rebuilding Highway 99 near Atwater.


INDOT worker hit by dump truck, dies

March 25, Evansville - An Indiana Department of Transportation worker in Evansville was struck by a dump truck and killed on Tuesday. Mark T. Shepherdson, 49, Newburgh, was declared dead at St. Mary’s Hospital in Evansville. Indiana State Police said he was operating a lighted arrow board to close a lane of I-164, a highway that circles the east and south sides of Evansville. The arrow board that Shepherdson was operating was being towed by an INDOT truck.


Bishop man killed industrial accident

March 25, Corpus Christi — A 54-year-old Bishop man died Tuesday after suffering injuries to his pelvic area during a work accident in the 6600 block of Leopard Street, police said. The man was conducting a test on a pipe about 10:03 a.m. at P.W.C. Industries Inc., when the pipe struck him, police said. He was taken to Christus Spohn Hospital Memorial, where he later died. The county medical examiner’s office reported Wednesday he died of massive abdominal pelvic blunt trauma.


Local Truck Driver Killed In Virginia Wreck

March 25, Greenville, Virginia - A truck driver from Greeneville was killed early Tuesday when the tractor-trailer he was driving struck the rear of another truck on Interstate 81 near Roanoke, Va. A Virginia State Police spokesman said Lonnie J. Owens, Sr., 60, of Fry Street, Greeneville, died at the scene of the 1:40 a.m. Tuesday accident on Interstate 81. The state police spokesman said the accident, which was investigated by Trooper J.K. Jessee, occurred just south of the Route 460 interchange.


Police ID pawn shop employee killed during robbery 10:54 AM CT

March 25, Dallas, Texas - Dallas police identified today a 48-year-old man killed during a robbery in Pleasant Grove on Monday. Eric Boden was shot in the head during a robbery at the B&B Pawn Shop in the 8700 block of Lake June Road about 5:15 p.m. Monday. Boden was taken to a nearby hospital where he died. A witness told police that three men walked into the store and demanded money from Boden. They then shot him in the head before stealing two shotguns and a 1996 Ford Escort with the Texas license plate RDX-939, according to a Dallas police report.


3rd man dies from shooting at San Diego bus depot

March 26, San Diego, California — A second transit employee wounded when a co-worker opened fire at a city bus depot has died, authorities said Wednesday. Michael Stevenson, 55, died Tuesday afternoon at University of California, San Diego Medical Center, about 11 hours after the shootings, the medical examiner's office said on its Web site. The other worker, Benjamin Mwangi, died at the scene. The gunman, Lonnie Glasco, was shot and killed by police when he started to point his gun at them, authorities said.


Farmer killed after he gets trapped in grain bin

March 24, Birmingham, IOWA - A rural Birmingham man was killed after he was trapped in a grain bin. The Van Buren County Sheriff's Office says the accident on Tuesday morning is not considered suspicious and will not investigate it further. Police say rescuers pulled 70-year-old Donald Goematt from the grain bin and took him to Van Buren County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police say they don't know how Goematt was trapped inside.


PG&E Worker From Tracy Falls To Death

March 24, Firebaugh, California -- A Pacific Gas & Electric crew member from Tracy died Tuesday when he fell about 30 feet from a utility pole near the town of Firebaugh, the Madera County Sheriff's Department said. Peter Tololi, 36, was working in a rural area along Road 6 between Avenues 7 1/2 and 8 1/2 when the accident occurred at about 9:15 a.m., said Erica Stuart, a Sheriff's Department representative. Tololi was part of a crew that was putting in new poles and resetting lines.


Oklahoma Department of Corrections officer collapses, dies

March 24, Wilburton,Oklahoma - A corrections officer died Monday after collapsing at a Department of Corrections training facility. Ralph Marley, Jr., 54, was pronounced dead about 7 p.m. Monday after being taken to a local hospital, said Department of Corrections spokesman Jerry Massie. Marley was hired to work as a corrections officer Jan. 26. Marley had worked at Mack Alford Correctional Center briefly before attending the five-week corrections officer training at Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton, Massie said.


Construction worker hit dies of injuries

March 23, Salt Lake City, Utah - A construction worker hit while working in Salt Lake City last week has died. 53 year old Kelly Dale Almond parked his truck next to the curb at 307 West 400 North last Tuesday. When he got out of the truck he was hit and pushed into the windshield. The driver says he looked away for just a moment and veered to the right. But witnesses say he was going too fast for that residential area. Investigators are still looking into this one and haven't decided if charges will be filed.


California Bus Mechanic Dies After Shooting 2 Co-Workers, Killing 1

March 24, San Diego, California — A mechanic shot and killed one co-worker and critically injured another before police killed the gunman at a Metropolitan Transit System bus complex in downtown San Diego, authorities said. A report came in around 2:15 a.m. Tuesday saying two people had been shot at the complex in the East Village area near Petco Park, police Sgt. Bob Dare said. The gunman was shot by police shortly after they arrived at the bus yard. The shooter was identified as a mechanic on automated bus fare boxes who had worked for MTS for about 30 years, agency spokesman Rob Schupp said. The injured man, a bus mechanic who also was a 30-year veteran, was in critical condition at a hospital. The employee who was killed had been a foreman for about four years, Schupp said. No names were released. The motive for the shooting was under investigation.


UPDATE: Man Killed in Industrial Accident

March 24, Odessa, Texas - A man was killed in an industrial accident Tuesday. It happened Tuesday afternoon around 1:00 on the westside of Odessa on Westover Street at the Hollice-Clark Company. Ector County officials have identified the man as 53-year-old Daniel D. Conn. Co-workers say Conn was cleaning a tank when he apparently fell in. The co-workers say they noticed he was no longer on the tank and the hose he was using was on the ground. Ector County authorities and DPS are investigating.


San Antonio pilot killed in FedEx crash

March 23, Japan - FedEx Corp. officials said Monday that one of the two pilots killed in the FedEx Express plane crash that took place in Japan was from San Antonio. FedEx Express Flight 80 was involved in an accident early Monday morning while it was en route from Guangzhou, China to Narita, Japan. The accident occurred upon landing in Japan, according to a statement released by Memphis-based FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX). Captain Kevin Kyle Mosley, 54, of Hillsboro, Ore., and First Officer Anthony Stephen Pino, 49, of San Antonio were killed in the crash, FedEx officials say. They were the only two members on board this cargo flight. Investigators from Japan and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board are both working to determine the cause of this accident. The pilots were flying an MD-11F airplane.

Worker Electrocuted At Science Center

March 13, Hartford, Conneticut - A man in his early 20s was killed while performing work on the new Connecticut Science Center Friday morning. Hartford police said the man was electrocuted while working on the center's HVAC system. He was employed by RCMS Controls, of Wallingford, which specializes in the systems. Witnesses said the worker was found slumped on the ground just after 8 a.m. They said it is unclear how he was shocked, but was working on the heating and air conditioning system in the area where there are electrical cables. The man was taken to Hartford Hospital after being given CPR at the site. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.


Woman Killed at Local Vet Clinic

March 13, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - PA nasty divorce ended in the worst way for a beloved woman who worked at a pet clinic in Mays Landing, N.J. on Thursday. Her husband showed up at the clinic in the morning, shot her and then shot himself. Both died. "She had blood all over her hands. There was blood all over the door. It was horrible. I'm still shook up," said Joanne Bucca who works at the CVS right across the street from the All Paws Veterinary Clinic. A woman had run into Bucca's store asking workers to dial 9-1-1. The victim, Patrice Clemente, 50, had told co-workers she knew her life was in danger. They told her to call police. She chose not to, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor.


Worker killed in elevator accident

March 13, Chelsea, Massachusetts - An employee of the State Garden produce market in Chelsea was killed Friday when an elevator fell on him. The 35-year-old was working in the elevator shaft when rigging meant to keep the elevator in place apparently gave way and crushed him at about 4 p.m. Police do not expect foul play, but state police and Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley are investigating the case.


Truck driver killed in Big Island crash

March 13, Honolulu, Hawaii - The driver of a pickup truck was killed after the vehicle hit a tree early today in the Big Island’s North Hilo district. The accident occurred at 2:30 a.m. on Amauulu Road near Maikalani Road. Big Island firefighters had to use “jaws of life” equipment to free the driver who was trappd in the cab. The victim's identification was not immediately available. The driver of a pickup truck was killed after the vehicle hit a tree early today in the Big Island’s North Hilo district. The accident occurred at 2:30 a.m. on Amauulu Road near Maikalani Road. Big Island firefighters had to use “jaws of life” equipment to free the driver who was trappd in the cab. The victim's identification was not immediately available.


Cab driver's shooting officially ruled homicide

March 13, Peoria, Illinois - The death of a cab driver who was shot multiple times during a robbery was officially ruled a homicide Thursday. Steven E. Shawver, 59, of 3214 NE Madison Ave. was shot and killed early on the morning of Dec. 9, while on duty. At an inquest Thursday, Peoria County Coroner Johanna Ingersoll said Shawver was responding to a fare when an unknown person or persons tried to rob him in the 1200 block of West MacQueen Avenue. No arrests have been made in relation to the slaying, ruled a homicide by a coroner's jury.


WEB EXCLUSIVE ... Construction worker dies after fall at OJR Middle School

March 13, Washington, Pennsylvania - A construction company employee who fell from scaffolding at an Owen J. Roberts Middle School construction site Thursday morning died, officials confirmed Thursday afternoon. The deceased person's identity was not known by press time as it was not released by any officials who were reached for comment. When reached by phone, Lenny Uddybach, a spokesperson with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, confirmed that OSHA "has initiated an investigation" into the fatal incident . However, she declined to provide details, indicating OSHA doesn't release details until its investigation is closed, a matter which would take up to six months to complete.


Robbers kill employee in North Side restaurant last night

March 13, Columbus, Ohio - An employee of a North Side restaurant died after being shot last night in a robbery. The robbery occurred at the Iftin Restaurant, 4191 Cleveland Ave., shortly after 10 p.m. Columbus police said the employee was shot when three masked men robbed the restaurant, which serves African cuisine and is owned by Hibo Omar. The employee was taken to Ohio State University Medical Center with several gunshot wounds. He died shortly before midnight. WBNS-10TV reported the dead man was Daud Osman, 38.


Irrigation work shot dead in Palmview

March 12, Near Palmview, Texas - The victim of an early morning homicide was a 63-year-old irrigation canal worker, not a teenage boy as previously reported. Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Treviño said the man, whose identity they are not yet releasing, was working in the field when he was approached by two teenagers with guns about 6:30 this morning. The man swung a machete at one of the teens and was shot, killing him almost instantly. Sheriff's deputies responded to the call of a homicide at 6:49 a.m. Thursday along East Goodwin Road, south of 3 Mile Line Road near Palmview.


Worker crushed by 5-ton piece of steel

March 12, Fort Worth, Texas - Police say a 56-year-old worker was crushed Thursday when a five-ton piece of steel fell from a crane he was operating at a Fort Worth steel mill. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner's office identified the man as Johnny Little of Joshua. The Dallas Morning News reports in its online edition Thursday that the accident happened about 6:20 a.m. at the Delta Steel mill in far south Fort Worth.


NYC sanitation worker dies

March 12, New York City, New York - A New York City sanitation worker has died after collapsing on the job. The 19-year veteran, Stephen Dixon, died of an apparent heart attack Thursday at a hospital in Far Rockaway, Queens. He was 61. The Uniformed Sanitationmen's Association says it was the eighth on-the-job death in less than six years. Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty announced the death. They offered condolences on behalf of the city to Dixon's wife, Diane; their four children and seven grandchildren.


Smurfit employee electrocuted in Fernandina

March 10, Jacksonville, Florida - An employee at a Fernandina Beach industrial company was killed Tuesday night while on the job, authorities said. Fernandina Beach Fire Chief Dan Hanes said a 38-year-old worker at Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. on North Eighth Street was electrocuted about 11:30 p.m. The man went into cardiac arrest and lost consciousness after the shock. Paramedics tried to resuscitate him on the way to Baptist Medical Center Nassau, Hanes said. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.


Veteran Police Officer Killed

March 10, Corpus Christi, Texas - An abundance of sadness mixed with determination. That's the mood among members of the Corpus Christi Police Department as they mourn the loss of one of their own. Katy Kiser is first at five this evening with the story. Lt. Stuart Alexander, a twenty year veteran of the force was struck and killed by a vehicle involved in a high speed chase. This afternoon acting Police Chief Walsh released details on this tragic death. Lietenant Alexander it appears was laying out spike strips in the road, when its believed the suspect, 21 year old Daniel Lopez intentionally hit Alexander.


UPDATE

Total contract worker identified

March 10, Beaumont, Texas - Instead of focusing on getting immediate answers, Patric Wittwer's parents have been told to focus on burying their son. Wittwer, 24, of Aledo, died Sunday after an accident Saturday at Total Petrochemical in Port Arthur. He worked for McKinney Drilling, a company working on Total's expansion project. Kim Smith, risk manager for Keller Foundations, parent company of McKinney Drilling, said she has been in contact with the Wittwers to offer support.


Slain for $7, truck driver mourned

March 11, Albany, New York - Jason Rivenburg was cleaning the dashboard in the cab of a tractor-trailer, 900 miles from home, talking on his cellphone to another trucker, when 22-year-old Willie Pelzer walked up and shot the Schoharie County trucker twice in the head, South Carolina authorities alleged. The murderer left with $7. Rivenburg, 35, had gone back to long-haul truck driving for a few weeks as a fill-in driver after being laid off for the winter from his job operating heavy road construction equipment.


Fresno Cab Drivers On High Alert After Cabbie Is Shot To Death

March 11, Fresno, California – Cab drivers are on alert after one of their own is shot to death early this morning in Southwest Fresno. It's the second time in two weeks a cab driver has been shot, while on the job. Cab drivers waiting outside the Greyhound Bus Station in Downtown Fresno say Acapulco Cab driver Jesus Martinez was a good guy, new on the job. According to police, it was here that the cab driver picked up his last fare, before he was shot this morning. Ramon Alvarez, Cab Driver: "It is one of the most dangerous jobs in town.”


VIDEOS: Semi driver in fatal crash identified

March 10, North Liberty — Robert J. Ideker, 53, of Hokah, Minn., died today when the semi-trailer truck he was driving crashed on Interstate 380 about two miles north of Interstate 80. The State Patrol said the semi ran off the road as it was going north, struck a cement culvert and crashed into the bridge support of the Forevergreen Road overpass. The patrol said Ideker was dead at the scene. The cab of the semi was smashed in. A wrecker used a cable to pull the truck away from the bridge.


Cab driver fatally shot near Watts

March 9, South Los Angeles, California - The L.A. County Sheriff's Department is investigating the fatal shooting of a taxi cab driver in an unincorporated area bordering Watts. Deputies were responding to reports of a traffic accident, around 11:45 p.m. Sunday, when they found the wounded cab driver on a sidewalk, at Alameda Street and Tweedy Boulevard. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not been disclosed.


One killed in helicopter crash

Roanoke, Virginia - A Washington man has been killed after the helicopter he was piloting crashed in a field in central Kansas. The Kansas Highway Patrol has identified the man as 66-year-old Roger Hershner, of Sequim, Wash., who was flying from his home state to Virginia to perform contract work for the U.S. Forest Service. A state trooper said the plane stopped overnight Saturday in Ogallala, Neb., and left Sunday for Wichita for another layover.


Pa. fire police officer dies after collapse

March 9, Bart Township, Pennsylvania — A Pa. firefighter died after collapsing while on duty at a fundraising event Saturday. Fire police officer John G. Lawrence was directing traffic outside the Bart Township Fire Company in Lancaster County, Pa. when he experienced a medical emergency. Personnel attempted CPR and used an AED but were unable to revive FPO Lawrence. He died later in the day at a local hospital according to the Bart Township Fire Company. Funeral services for FPO Lawrence will be held Wednesday, March 11 at 11 a.m. at Shivery Funeral Home, in Christiana, Pa. FPO Lawrence is survived by his wife, mother, sister, three children and seven grandchildren.


Tacoma taxi driver found shot dead

March 8, Tacoma, Washington – Police are investigating after a taxi driver was found dead on Sunday morning. His family says 23-year-old Mohamud Ahmed is the man police found shot to death on the street outside his cab. Ahmed's company, King Cab of Fife, says Ahmed picked up a passenger at 3:26 a.m. outside a Tacoma restaurant. Then the car's GPS unit signaled that at about 4 a.m. the taxi stopped a couple miles away in the middle of the street, where Ahmed was killed.

Franklin farmer killed by tractor

March 22, Franklin, New Jersey - An 87-year-old man was killed after he was run over by the farm tractor he was using to plow a farm field at his South Blue Bell Road home, police said. Joseph Gatto Jr. died late Friday night after police found him lying unconscious in the field. Gatto was run over by the tractor, which then crashed into woods line about 100 yards from where police found him. Representatives from Forest Grove Fire Department, Franklin Emergency Medical Services, Underwood-Memorial Hospital paramedics, Gloucester County Medical Examiner's Office and county Prosecutor's Office all responded to the scene.


Fitzgerald man killed in work accident

March 22, Tifton, Georgia - A Fitzgerald man working in Tifton was killed when a truck he was working on rolled backwards. 30-year-old Jamey Kent was killed at Yale Lift Trucks of Florida and Georgia in Tifton. Kent worked there as a diesel mechanic. According to Tift County Coroner Steve Wood, Kent was working on a small single-cab truck when the accident happened Friday morning. Kent was pronounced dead at the scene.


Sanitation Worker Killed On Job In Conyers

March 22, Conyers, Georgia - Rockdale County authorities said a 34-year-old Decatur man was struck and killed when a car pinned him against the rear of a waste delivery truck as he unloaded a trash can. The accident happened Friday morning on Georgia Highway 138. Sheriff's Chief Deputy Rob Cordero said Shawn Robertson died at Rockdale Medical Center from his injuries. Cordero said Robertson worked for Curbside Waste Systems in Covington.


UPDATE

Oakland police shooting: The mourning after

March 22, The horror for Oakland police that began Saturday afternoon did not end at daybreak Sunday. If anything, the light of day made the killings of the police officers all the more real as friends and family struggled to cope with their losses. Five veteran officers were shot by the same suspect in two related events Saturday afternoon. Sgts. Mark Dunakin, 40, of Tracy; Erv Romans, 43, of Danville; and Dan Sakai, 35, of Castro Valley, died at Highland Hospital minutes after they arrived. Motorcycle officer John Hege, 41, of Concord, was pronounced brain-dead at Highland Hospital on Sunday morning, said police spokesman Jeff Thomason. A fifth officer, whose name was withheld by authorities, was grazed in the head and a
bullet entered and exited his shoulder, Thomason said.


Va. resort employee sought in supervisor killings

March 22, Hot Springs, Virginia — Authorities in Virginia were searching Sunday for a resort employee suspected of shooting and killing two of his supervisors in the hotel kitchen while guests ate dinner in a nearby dining room. Two kitchen workers were shot and killed around 8 p.m. Saturday at The Homestead luxury resort in the Allegheny Mountains near the West Virginia state line, Bath County Sheriff Larry Norfleet said. No one else was injured, and hotel spokeswoman Carol Stratford said no guests were present at the scene of the shooting. She said she didn't think guests heard the shots because a band was playing during dinner. Suspect Beacher Ferrel Hackney fled the scene after the shootings, and authorities were using tracking dogs, a helicopter and road checkpoints in their hunt, the sheriff's office said. Hackney was supervised by victims Ronnie Stinnett and Dwight Kerr, and all three worked in a department responsible for washing dishes, picking up trash and cleaning the kitchen. Stinnett and Kerr were shot with a semiautomatic handgun, Norfleet said.


3 officers dead, suspect killed in Oakland, Calif.

March 21, Oakland, California - A man wanted for violating his parole killed three veteran police officers and gravely wounded another in two shootings Saturday, the first after a routine traffic stop and the second after a massive manhunt ended in gunfire, authorities said. The gunman was also killed. "It's in these moments that words are extraordinarily inadequate," said Mayor Ron Dellums at a somber news conference announcing the slayings. It was the first time in the history of the Oakland Police Department that three officers were killed in the line of duty in the same day. The violence began when two officers stopped a Buick sedan in east Oakland just after 1 p.m., Oakland police spokesman Jeff Thomason said. The driver opened fire, killing one officer and gravely wounding another. The gunman then fled on foot, police said, leading to an intense manhunt by dozens of Oakland police, California Highway Patrol officers and Alameda County sheriff deputies. Streets were roped off and an entire area of east Oakland closed to traffic. Officers checking on an anonymous tip found the suspect barricaded inside an apartment building around 3:30 p.m., police said. Police said the gunman fired an assault rifle at officers who came into the building to arrest him. Two members of the SWAT team were killed and a third was grazed by a bullet, police said. Acting Oakland police Chief Howard Jordan said police returned fire, killing a man they identified as 26-year-old Lovelle Mixon of Oakland. The slain officers were identified as Sgt. Mark Dunakin, 40, who was killed at the first shooting. The officers killed at the second location were Sgt. Ervin Romans, 43, and Sgt. Daniel Sakai, 35. Officer John Hege, 41, was in grave condition.


Bouncer killed, another hurt in NJ bar brawl

March 21, Atlantic City, New Jersey - A Newark man has been charged in connection with a brawl at an Atlantic City bar that left one bouncer dead and another seriously injured. Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel said 25-year-old Luis Martinez was being held in the county jail on $250,000 bail. Martinez was facing two counts of aggravated assault, and Housel said more charges could be filed. Housel said 27-year-old Richard Rivera of Atlantic City died from the wounds he sustained in the brawl at the Irish Pub. An autopsy was to be performed on Sunday.


Sanitation worker crushed in garbage truck

March 21, Phoenix, Arizona - A sanitation worker in Phoenix was crushed to death Monday in the compactor of his garbage truck. Phoenix Fire Department Capt. Courtney Jenkins says firefighters found the man while responding to a call that someone might have been screaming in the back of the truck. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released his name.


Worker crushed by fork lift OSHA investigating accident

March 21, Kingston, Massachusetts - A worker at the Kelleher Cranberry Bogs in Kingston, Mass., was killed after being crushed by an overturned fork lift on Friday, police said. Russell Santheson, 53, of Plymouth, Mass., was pinned under the fork lift when police arrived at about 5:30 p.m. Police said Santheson was the one operating the lift. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was on-scene to investigate the accident.


Worker dies after fall at Larkspur building site

March 19, A worker died Thursday after falling off the roof of a home under construction on a Larkspur hillside, authorities said. The worker fell about 4 p.m. at 7 Palm Court, a cul-de-sac about a quarter mile east of Magnolia Avenue on Palm Hill. The man tumbled near the rear side of the structure, and a fire spokesman estimated the drop at about 30 feet. Larkspur firefighters rushed the worker to Marin General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead after 5 p.m. Family members and friends were gathering at the hospital in the evening. The man has been identified as a Richmond resident 32 or 33 years old, but the coroner's office did not release his name pending notification of immediate next-of-kin.


Woman Shot And Killed In Forest Park

March 20, Cincinnati, Ohio - Sandra Daniels is trying to understand why someone would take her only child, 30-year-old DeVona Daniels. "Get killed by someone she's trying to assist and help and motivate and encourage – it's unbelievable – unbelievable ," Sandra said. According to police, Daniels was a care provider and helping to rehabilitate 18-year-old Anthony Irby. Irby was receiving help through Focus on Independence, a subcontractor for the Hamilton County MRDD. After taking Irby to get his license Thursday afternoon, Daniels took Irby back to his Forest Park apartment. That's when police say Irby shot Daniels in the stomach.


Worker crushed, injured at Frisco concrete plant

March 20, Plano, Texas - The Frisco Fire Department responded to an injury call at the Redi-Mix Inc. concrete plant on State Highway 121, at approximately 10:27 a.m. today. The caller said a worker was screaming for help from the top of the building, saying he was trapped in equipment. The fire department sent an aerial ladder truck to the scene. When the fire crew arrived, the worker was on the ground, and no extrication was needed. The worker had sustained a crushing-type injury while working at this industrial facility. He was taken to an area hospital by CareFlite helicopter with what appeared to be non life-threatening injuries, city officials reported.


Tree cutter falls to death on job Victim suffered head trauma and internal injuries

March 20, Grand Island, New York - A freak accident leaves one man dead in Grand Island. Three workers from TK Tree Service in Youngstown were taking down a tree on Amberwood Drive on Grand Island just before 10:00 Friday morning. Kris Wolf, her husband, and three sons were watching them work in her next door neighbor's backyard. Two workers were at the base. One was about 40 feet up in the tree. The Wolfs watched as the rotting tree broke off at the base. Kris Wolf said, "They had some ropes, they were holding onto it. I don't think they realized the whole tree was going to tip from the bottom. He was cutting a part of the trunk at the top and I think they expected that to go and for whatever reason the whole tree just went." Wolf's husband called 9-1-1. Wolf is a registered nurse at Kenmore Mercy Hospital. She went out to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the victim until paramedics arrived. Grand Island Fire Chief Greg Butcher said, "First arriving units arrived to discover a tree trimming individual working for a company that fell from a tree." Paramedics continued CPR in the ambulance. The worker, 28-year-old John West of Lockport was pronounced dead on arrival at Kenmore Mercy Hospital.


Worker found dead in vent at Steamboat restaurant

March 19, Steamboat Springs, Colorado — Authorities say an electrician died when he got stuck in a vent at a Steamboat Springs, Colorado restaurant and apparently was asphyxiated. Police say 49-year-old Micheal Goodspeed of Aurora was trying to enter the restaurant feet-first through the vent when he became wedged in a tapering section. Routt County Coroner Rob Ryg says it appears Goodspeed died of "positional asphyxiation." An autopsy is planned.


Driver, road worker die in crash on I-80 overpass

March 19, San Jose, California - An elderly Suisun City man died Wednesday at a Walnut Creek trauma center just hours after police said his truck plowed through a construction zone in Fairfield and fatally injured a construction worker. The identity of the 87-year-old man was withheld pending notification of family. An autopsy to determine the cause of his death is slated for this week. The construction worker, 31 year old Friz Schulz of San Francisco, suffered severe head injuries and was transported to NorthBay Medical Center, where he died.


Parole officer killed in crash

March 20, Oswego County, New York -- A New York State parole officer was killed in a crash while on duty Thursday morning. Deputies say icy roads were a factor in the single-vehicle accident that killed Officer Jeffrey Woolson, 41, of Pulaski. They say he lost control on an icy curve, went into a ditch and hit a tree while driving on County Route 11 in West Monroe just after 7 a.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene.


Man Identified In Co-Op Accident

March 19, Des Moines, Iowa - A worker was killed Thursday afternoon in an accident at a Co-Op in Des Moines. The accident happened at the Heartland Co-Op at 5500 Army Post Road around 4 p.m. Officials with Heartland Co-Op said Clifford Mast had been with the company for more than 20 years. They're not sure yet exactly what happened. "It appeared that he had become trapped between what they described as a catwalk and a belt," Polk County Deputy Jana Rooker said.


Construction Worker Killed On Abernathy Road San Francisco Man Died At Hospital

March 18, Fairfield, California - A construction worker was killed after being hit along Abernathy Road, Fairfield police said Wednesday. The deceased is a 31-year-old man from San Francisco, police said. He was taken by ambulance to North Bay Medical Center where he died from his injuries. Police said a 87-year-old man from Suisun City was driving his pickup northbound on Abernathy Road when he crossed the center of the roadway and hit the worker along with several construction vehicles. The man was taken to a hospital by flight and later died at John Muir Medical Center, police said.


Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Employee Dies After Accident

March 18, Pocatello, Idaho - The Jackson Hole Mountain Resort employee who was invoved in a serious accident on Friday has died. Kathryn Hess fell down a corridor while assessing back country terrain just south of the resort boundary. Hess was an eight year member of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort ski patrol. Here's a statement released by the resort. "Kathryn showed an incredible love for the mountains, her fellow patrollers and our guests. She was an accomplished mountaineer, skier and outdoors person who will be greatly missed by all at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort."


Tug boat worker dies after falling in river near Edgard

March 18, New Orleans, Louisiana - A man working on a tug boat near Edgard accidentally fell into the Mississippi River Tuesday night and later died, according to a spokesman for the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's office received a call shortly before 11 p.m. from St. John Fleeting of Garyville that one of its workers, identified as Robert St. Pierre, 20, of Mt. Airy, accidentally fell into the river, said Capt. Dane Clement. St. Pierre was pulled out of the water by fellow workers and CPR was started and continued while he was being transported to St. James Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Clement said.


Construction worker killed in fall from 9th floor of Manhattan building

March 18, Manhattan, New York — A construction worker has died after falling from the ninth floor of a Manhattan building. Authorities say the 28-year-old man landed on scaffolding at Park Avenue near 55th Street. The accident occurred Wednesday morning. The man's name was withheld until his family could be notified. The city Buildings Department was investigating the incident and a stop work order was issued. The contractor may only perform remedial work to secure the site.


Worker Falls to Death at Hotel Project

March 18, New York City, New York - A 28-year-old construction worker died on Wednesday after he fell from the 10th floor of a hotel under construction on Park Avenue South, the authorities said. The police said the worker, Anthony Paino, of Staten Island, fell around 11:15 a.m. from the construction site of the Gansevoort Park Hotel at 420 Park Avenue South, at 29th Street. Mr. Paino fell from a plywood mold and landed on top of a sidewalk shed, construction workers at the site said. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital Center in cardiac arrest, the Fire Department said. The police said he was pronounced dead at the hospital.


Construction Worker Dies in Accident at Kanawha Mall, Name Released

March 17, Charleston, West Virginia - A construction worker was killed Monday morning at the Kanawha Mall in Charleston. It happened at about 11:45 a.m. Police say 60-year-old Richard Patrick was hit in the head by a piece of steel. Officers say he was killed immediately. Patrick was working for Agsten Construction. The company is doing a demolition project at the mall. The mall has been under construction for several months. workers are converting the shopping center into more of a strip mall.


Worker dies after falling from cell tower

March 17, Lake Worth, Florida - Palm Beach County authorities say a technician working on a cell phone tower fell about 115 feet to his death. The sheriff's office reports that 36-year-old Clinton Waters was working on a T-Mobile cell tower in Lake Worth when he fell, just after noon on Tuesday. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue responded and pronounced Waters dead at scene. It's not clear why Waters fell, but authorities are still investigating.


Port Huron man killed when tractor flips on him

March 17, Port Huron, Michigan - Port Huron authorities say a 30-year-old construction worker was killed when the tractor he was operating overturned and pinned him underneath. The accident happened about 10 a.m. Tuesday. Authorities tell the Times Herald and WDIV-TV the man lived in Port Huron, but they didn't release his name. Police Sgt. Duane Loxton says the driver made a mistake that caused the accident.


Man Buried Underneath Pile Of Coal

March 17, Mobile, Alabama - A man working at the McDuffie Coal Terminal on the Mobile River was killed Tuesday morning when he was buried in coal. Witnesses told Mobile Fire-Rescue that 53-year-old Larry George slipped and fell head first into a pile of coal while a rail car above was dumping its load. George was buried underneath 100 feet of coal, most likely suffocating him. Co-workers uncovered before firefighters arrived. Firefighters say George was having a heart attack. They started C.P.R. and transported him to Mobile Infirmary where he was later pronounced dead.


Firms fined over worker's death in Walpole

March 17, Norwood, Massachusetts - The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined two subcontractors a combined $15,750 for work safety violations that led to the death of a man last September at a Wal-Mart in Walpole. Romulo Santos, 47, of Somerville, was electrocuted while working with a demolition crew when he came in contact with live wires. At the time of his death, Santos worked for Italo Masonry, a Medford subcontractor.


Arizona sanitation worker crushed in garbage truck

March 16, Phoenix, Arizona — Phoenix police say a sanitation worker has been crushed to death in the compactor of his garbage truck. Police identified the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene Monday, as 60-year-old Robert Amaral (AM'-uh-ral). Authorities say Amaral was trying to fix a problem with the machinery and somehow got caught in the equipment. They believe he was alone at the time. Police are treating the incident as an accidental death investigation.


Father of four killed at office

March 16, Milwaukee, Wisconsin - A 38-year-old Milwaukee man was shot and killed Monday afternoon inside his business on the city's northwest side, police said. The shooting may have occurred during a robbery, but police were investigating other motives, Lt. Alfonso Morales said. Police were seeking a known suspect Monday night, Morales said. The victim was identified by police and family members as Kenneth L. Perry. Family members said he owned Perry's Cleaning Company, which cleans homes and businesses. He was shot about 4:30 p.m. inside the company's office in a building at 5401 N. 76th St., Morales said.


Worker killed in accident at Kanawha Mall

March 16, Charleston, West Virginia - A Charleston man was killed Monday in a construction accident at the Kanawha Mall. Richard Patrick, 60, an employee of Agsten Construction, died after a steel bar joist fell on him, said Lt. Kim West of the Charleston Police Department. The joist "was being lifted by a [crane] when the securing straps broke and it fell on him," West said. "He was wearing a hard hat, but I don't think it would matter." Patrick was taken to CAMC General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.


Worker dies at Monroe's Victor Oolitic Quarry Monday

March 16, Bloomington, Indiana - A Bloomington man was killed Monday afternoon in an industrial accident at a local limestone quarry. Tim L. McCammon, 47, of Bloomington, was pronounced dead at Victor Oolitic Stone Co., 7850 S. Victor Pike, after a 6,000-pound piece of stone tipped on its side while being prepared by McCammon for transport. Chief Deputy Mike Pershing, with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, said McCammon was assisting in “hooking” the stone when the 14-foot-long, 6-foot-tall slab “became unstable and fell to one side,” crushing McCammon.


Bluff City man killed in industrial accident

March 16, Kingsport, Tennesee - According to a report by the Bristol Herald Courier, an employee at Line Power Manufacturing Corp. was killed Saturday in an accident that occurred while he was working on electrical equipment.Joel W. Gobble, 38, of Bluff City, Tenn., was pronounced dead at Bristol Regional Medical Center at 11 a.m., about three hours after the incident, said Randy Grimes, director of safety with Electro-Mechanical Corp., which owns Line Power. “We don’t know exactly what happened,” Grimes said. “The incident is under investigation by both us and the Virginia Department of Occupational Safety and Health. We can confirm that he was testing a piece of electrical equipment.”

Debi Fergen, testified Wednesday in Las Vegas, telling state lawmakers if they would have take her sons death more seriously and held Boyd Gaming accountable construction deaths on the Strip might have been prevented Debbie said, “For that reason, I lay some of those deaths at the feet of Nevada OSHA,”
Debbie describes her sons last words, “I got his head up, get me a rope, I can’t do this alone,” These words are what Debbie had to holds on to now, this is what gives her; her fight! Being a family member I know how important these things are no matter how horrid it may seem Travis spoke them with his last breath. With his last breath he was trying to save a live that could never be saved and Boyd knew this. They sent Travis to an early grave and they only ones who seem to have to live with this is his family. The sad thing is they will never know what they have really done because they are too worried about covering their butts. We love you Debbie and you are in our hearts and prayers.

Worker killed in St. James Parish pipeline fire

March 10, New Orleans, Louisiana - A midmorning fire Tuesday at a Marathon Petroleum-owned oil storage facility in St. James Parish has left one man dead and injured six others. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire at the St. James Pipeline Station, a facility that stores and pumps crude oil to the Marathon oil refinery in Garyville, according to Marathon Petroleum Co. spokesman Robert Calmus. Rodney Mallett, spokesman for the Department of Environmental Quality, said there was no environmental impact to the area following the fire. The St. James Pipeline Station is in the community of St. James, which is part of St. James Parish. The fire erupted about 11:30 a.m. while contractors worked on an underground pipeline.


Worker dies on roof of Springs restaurant

March 10, Denver, Colorado - A 49-year-old Colorado Springs man who had gone to the roof of a restaurant to work on a compressor was found dead about five hours later. Colorado Springs police identified the man as Douglas J. Velliquette. Velliquette arrived at Borriello Brothers restaurant, 229 S. Eighth St., at about 11 a.m. Monday. At about 4 p.m., an employee of the restaurant saw Velliquette's ladder still leaning against the building. When he climbed the ladder, he spotted Velliquette and called emergency services. There was no sign of trauma, and there appears to be nothing criminal connected with Velliquette's death, police said.


Worker killed in Williams County factory

March 10, Williams County, Ohio - An industrial accident at a Williams County factory has claimed a life. Police say it happened just after midnight Tuesday at Kamco Industries. Neither the worker's name nor details of the accident have been released. The only detail we have at this point is that the person killed was female.


Construction Worker Killed On Job In Greene County

March 10, Morgantown, West Virginia - A construction worker died after an accident at a job site in Greene County. Investigators said Richard Reed Custer, 41, died on Monday morning while on the job at the Poland Mine site in Dunkard Township in Greene County.


Total Refinery Worker Killed in Crane Accident

March 8, Beaumont, Texas - KFDM News has learned a worker at the Total Petrochemical Plant in Jefferson County was killed Saturday in a construction accident at the plant. It happened around 4:15 on Saturday. Total officials say the man suffered a head injury, he was a contract employee. Emergency personnel from the refinery and the Port Arthur fire department responded to the scene. The man was air-lifted to St. Elizabeth hospital in Beaumont and died around 1:00 Sunday afternoon. Plant officials say an investigation into the accident is in progress and the appropriate authorities have been notified.


Philly police fatally shoot worker at gas works

March 7, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania —Police say they fatally shot a worker on the roof of the Philadelphia Gas Works building after he pointed a handgun at them. Investigators say officers shot 42-year-old Juan Delgado around 8 p.m. Friday. Another PGW employee says that shortly before the shooting he had gotten despondent text messages from Delgado saying that he was "going to end it." Delgado was a dispatch operator at PGW. A co-worker says Delgado had just learned that he had cancer.


UPDATE: Officials release identity of worker killed at Robins Air Force Base

March 7, Macon, Georgia - Officials have released the identity of a 47-year-old man who was killed Thursday afternoon in a construction accident at Robins Air Force Base. Base officials identified the victim as Jacky S. Brown, owner of Dublin Mechanical Contractors. The accident occurred at 3:20 p.m. at an Army Corps of Engineers construction site near Milledgeville Street and Richard Ray Boulevard on base. Robins spokesman John Birdsong said he expected to release additional details later today. Houston County coroner Danny Galpin said the body has been sent to the crime laboratory in Macon for an autopsy, which is planned for today. Galpin said Brown was in a trench working on a pipe when the pipe blew up.


NY truck driver killed in cab just off I-26 in SC

March 7, St. Matthews, South Carolina - Authorities say the driver of an 18-wheeler has been found shot to death inside his truck at an abandoned gas station just off Interstate 26 in South Carolina. Calhoun County Sheriff Thomas Summers says officers found 35-year-old Jason Rivenburg of Fultonham, N.Y., after someone called 911 early Saturday morning and reported the tractor trailer just off exit 136 on I-26. Summers told WLTX-TV that investigators think Rivenburg stopped to rest when someone robbed him. The sheriff says Rivenburg's wallet is missing.


Big rig driver killed in LA crash

March 7, Los Angeles, California — The driver of a big rig was killed Saturday morning when his truck crashed through a guardrail and plunged 40 feet from a downtown elevated freeway, authorities said. California Highway Patrol officials later identified him as Jesus Reyes Jr., 39, of La Puente. The Ralphs supermarket truck was on an elevated ramp from Interstate 10 to Interstate 110 near the Los Angeles Convention Center when it overturned, plunged through the guardrail and landed upside down in a parking lot at about 12:25 a.m., according to CHP and fire officials.


Lignite mine worker dies in dragline accident

March 7, Mansfield, Louisiana — An employee of the Dolet Hills lignite mine was killed Friday morning when he became entangled in the tracks of the massive dragline used in the surface mining operation. The victim, identified as Stanley Nolen Freeman, 44, of Robeline, was killed instantly. Freeman was working with the team that was moving one of the draglines. The accident was reported around 8:30 a.m.


Fort Worth man falls, dies while trimming tree 10:49 AM CT

March 6, Fort Worth, Texas - A Fort Worth man fell and died after trying to cut a tree branch near his home Thursday evening. Joel Barajas, 46, fell from a tree about 7 p.m. and died in the 600 block of Grace Avenue, Fort Worth police said. The Tarrant County medical examiner's office did not list a cause of death this morning. Fort Worth police Sgt. Pedro Criado said reports of people falling from trees and dying are rare.


Cooper employee found dead inside plant

March 6, Albany, Georgia — Around 7 a.m. Thursday, a male Cooper Tire employee in his mid 40s was found dead by co-workers inside a bathroom at the tire plant, according to Dougherty County Chief of Police Don Cheek. The man’s information will not be released at this time in order for the next-of-kin to be notified of his death. “According to reports they (the employees) had just finished their shift when the victim told the guy he rode to work with that he would be in the bathroom for a minute and that he should wait for him outside,” said Cheek. “Apparently, the guy waited in the parking lot until some of their co-workers ran out and told him that the man had died in the bathroom.” Cheek said that there were reports that the man had told co-workers that he was not feeling well shortly before he died.


Oklahoma City firefighter death investigated

March 5, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — The first Oklahoma City firefighter to die in the line of duty in nearly 20 years was putting some gear back on a vehicle and getting ready to go back to the station when he collapsed. Deputy Fire Chief Cecil Clay said Thursday that Fire Cpl. Christopher Allen Dill, 43, had finished working on an apartment fire Wednesday afternoon when he complained of back pain and vision problems. "He had a mini seizure and went into full arrest," Clay said. "Three paramedics were working on him and transported him to the hospital. He was never able to be resuscitated."


Contractor Dies in Industrial Accident at Robins

March 4, Macon, Georgia - A construction contractor was killed at approximately 3:20 p.m. Thursday in an accident on base. According to a media release, the accident occurred at a construction site near Milledgeville Street and Richard Ray Boulevard here. Emergency crews responded to the scene. An investigation is being conducted to determine the cause of the accident. The identification of the victim is being withheld for 24 hours following notification of the next of kin.


Man dies in forklift accident

March 4, Anchorage, Alaska - State investigators are looking into a forklift accident that killed an employee at Chevrolet of South Anchorage Wednesday. It appears 49-year-old Timothy Ashcraft may have been taking a load to a trash container when the accident happened, investigators said. They're now looking at how Ashcraft, who worked in the parts department, became caught between the lift's mast and its roll cage.


Safety probe dismissed in deputy death County will not have to pay $4500 fine

March 5, Bloomington, Indiana - The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration has dismissed its case against Monroe County in the death of a deputy struck by a car while directing traffic. Indiana Department of Labor deputy commissioner Sean Keefer says the county will not have to pay a $4,500 fine because sheriff's deputies will be required to wear reflective vests during specific situations. Twenty-seven-year-old Deputy Sarah Jones was not wearing a reflective vest when struck by a sport-utility vehicle on Oct. 17 while directing nighttime traffic around an accident on Indiana 45 west of Bloomington. She died two days later.


Police investigating death of farmer

March 5, Dekalb, Illinois - The DeKalb County Sheriff's Office and the DeKalb County Coroner's Office are investigating the death of a Leland man who was found Tuesday morning laying beside a piece of farm machinery in rural DeKalb County. Kenneth C. Chiavario, 60, was checking his semitrailer while it was being loaded with soybeans at a grain bin in the 9200 block of Wesson Road, which is between Leland and Kane roads in southern DeKalb County, according to a news release from the sheriff's office. Lt. Van Bomar of the sheriff's office said it appears that Chiavario was doing an inspection on the vehicle and had climbed a ladder attached to the equipment. Chiavario may have slipped or fallen from the ladder, Bomar said.


Squaw Valley worker killed in avalanche

March 4, San Francisco, California - A Squaw Valley USA ski patrolman died in an avalanche Tuesday morning as he worked to check the slopes of the resort for hazards before it opened for the day's skiers. Andrew Entin, 41, was working on avalanche control around 8 a.m. when part of the slope broke away, catching him in the slide and partially burying him under the snow. A fellow ski patrolmen dug Entin out as emergency crews responded to the resort. Entin was taken first to a hospital in Truckee and then transported to Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, where he was pronounced dead.


Raleigh Co. Man Killed on the Job

John Hensley of Fairdale was killed, Tuesday.

March 3, Arnett, West Virginia - A Raleigh County man was killed on the job near Arnett. Raleigh County Deputies say 44-year-old John Hensley of Fairdale died when he was pinned between his truck and a gate. Investigators say Hensley was refilling a gas pump line when he stopped his truck on a slight incline. The truck popped out of gear and rolled into the man. It happened on Pine Branch Road around 11:30 Tuesday morning.


Worker Killed in Ship

March 3, Houston, Texas - A worker dies late Tuesday morning after he is struck by a piece of equipment in a terminal near the Houston Ship Channel, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Department. Investigators tell FOX 26 News that a winch struck and killed the worker. The Harris County Sheriff's Office was contacted at approximately 10:45 a.m. from the I.P.C. terminal at the 2600 block of Tidal Road in east Harris County. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will also conduct an investigation into the worker's death.


Driver dies, semi crashes into mobile home park

March 3, Billings, Montana - The driver of a semi tractor-trailer has died after the truck went off Interstate 90, through the barrow pit and struck a chain link fence surrounding a mobile home park. Billings Police Sgt. Mitch Brush says the man was impaled by a fence post inside the cab, which also hit a trailer house. The victim's name has not been released. The occupant of the trailer was shaken up, but was not injured.


Driver Hauling Tanker Dies In Roll-Over

February 28, Batavia, Ontario - The 77-year-old driver of a tractor trailer hauling a tanker died this morning after his vehicle rolled over alongside the Thruway in Batavia. Omer Beselaere of Strathroy, Ontario was extricated from the cab of the truck, but was pronounced dead at the scene. State Police says he was driving eastbound on the Thruway, drifted off the right shoulder, then continued through the grass for about a thousand feet. The vehicle then appeared to start making its way back up onto the road, but the vehicle likely rolled over due to the angle of the incline.

Bronx Crash Kills Livery Cab Driver; Three Others Injured

February 28, New York City, New York - A livery cab collided with a minivan Friday night in the Mott Haven section of the Bronx, killing one person and injuring three others, including a young girl, New York City police said. The collision occurred on the Bruckner Boulevard at 149th Street shortly before 8 p.m. The driver of the livery cab, who has been identified as 53-year-old Gregorio Pimentel, was reportedly instantly killed in the crash.


Clovis man killed in railroad accident

February 28, Yeso, New Mexico - New Mexico State Police say a railroad worker from Clovis was killed Saturday after falling off a rail car and being struck by another railcar that backed over him. State police say 56-year-old Gregory Blevins, who had been a railroad worker for 20 years, was helping co-workers with the BNSF railroad company when the accident happened about 4:20 a.m. in Yeso. Police say the workers were moving rail cars off the main track onto a side rail. FBlevins was at the end of a string of cars that were being backed up when he fell off and was killed as the cars backed over him.


Tree service worker dies; electrocution likely

February 28, Gainesville, Florida - A man delivering mulch for a Gainesville tree service was killed Saturday when a boom on his truck touched a power line, causing a fire in the cab, reported the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office. The man’s identity has not been released. However, sheriff’s Lt. Steve Maynard said he worked for Gaston’s Tree Service and was delivering mulch to a home at 21812 NW 91st St. when the mishap occurred about 9:23 a.m.


Crossing guard killed near middle school identified

February 27, Jeffersontown, Kentucky - A school crossing guard trying to help a child outside Carrithers Middle School was struck and killed by a driver Friday morning. "She was actually there a little early for her shift which is her usual way," said Lt. Doug Sweeney, commander of the LMPD Traffic Unit. Lt. Sweeney says 70-year-old Elaine Elgie was approaching her third anniversary on the job as an LMPD crossing guard.


Xe identifies pilot killed in helicopter crash

February 26, Elizabeth City, North Carolina — The pilot of the helicopter that crashed on the northeastern North Carolina campus of the private security contractor Xe (zee) is identified by the company as a decorated U.S. Army veteran. The Daily Advance of Elizabeth City reported Wednesday that Xe said in a statement that Glen H. Wenzel of Winston-Salem died when the MD-530 helicopter he was piloting crashed during a training flight with a student, whose identity has not been released.


Flint police officer died Tuesday

February 26, Flint, Michigan - A Flint police officer dies more than a year after he was hit policing an accident. Veteran police officer David Williams was seriously hurt while on the scene of a car accident last February on Interstate 475. He was helping an accident victim when another car lost control and hit him. According to the Flint Journal Williams died Tuesday. It's unclear whether he died as a result of his injuries.


UPDATE: Man Killed in Plant Accident in Barboursville, Name Released

February 26, Barboursville, West Virginia - Police have released the name of the man who died in an accident at a Barboursville plant Wednesday. It happened at Sulzer Metco Coatings. Barboursville Police say 56-year-old Dwight Morrison died of severe trauma to his upper torso after being pulled into a large piece of lathe machinery. The accident happened in the shipping & receiving department at the plant.


UPDATE

New Brunswick man ID'd as worker killed in wood chipper accident

February 25, Edison, New Jersey — Police on Wednesday identified a New Brunswick man as the worker killed Tuesday when he was pulled through a large wood chipper at an Edison business.Henry A. Aguilar, 31, of Throop Avenue has worked at Generated Materials, a wood recycling company on Meadow Road, for the past year and a half, Lt. Joseph Shannon said. He is originally from Honduras, where his parents still live.


Lafayette taxi driver found shot to death

February 25, Lafayette, Louisiana— Sheriff’s deputies are investigating the homicide of a taxi driver who was found shot to death in his car Monday night. Wallace Badeaux, 33, of Lafayette, was found dead in his Dixie Cab Co. vehicle in the 800 block of Fox Run Drive, Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office Lt. Craig Stansbury said. There are no suspects and investigators are working with Dixie Cab to trace Badeaux’s pick-ups that night, he said.


Wal-Mart employee dies after clothes rack accident

February 24, Louisville, Kentucky - A Wal-Mart employee died Monday after a clothes rack that was hanging from a warehouse ceiling fell on his head Saturday at the store off Westport Road. Sebert Dodge, 65, died Monday afternoon at University Hospital, Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Jack Arnold said. Dodge had been admitted to University Hospital after the incident occurred between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, Arnold said. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and neck due to the clothes rack falling and striking Dodge in the head, Arnold said.


Worker found dead atop roof of resort

February 24, Fountain Hills, Arizona - A man was found dead on the roof of a Fountain Hills resort Tuesday morning where he had been working on an air conditioning unit, officials said. The man, who was in his early 60s, was found by another worker who went up on the roof of the Copperwynd Resort to check on the man, Fountain Hills Community Affairs and Media Relations Administrator Katie Decker said. Fountain Hills Rural Metro Fire department reached the resort, 13225 N. Eagle Ridge Drive, at 10:27 a.m. They performed CPR on the man but could not resuscitate him, Decker said. The cause and time of death is unknown, Decker said.


NJ man killed in wood chipper accident

February 24, Edison, New Jersey - Police say an employee of an Edison recycling company has been killed after being caught in a wood chipper. Edison Township police spokesman Lt. Joe Shannon says the fatality occurred shortly after noon Tuesday at Generated Materials. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating. Police withheld the man's identity pending notification of his family.


Construction worker dies in accident at McCarran

February 23, Las Vegas, Nevada - A construction worker at the new Terminal 3 roadways project at McCarran International Airport died Monday afternoon. The man was a laborer working for Las Vegas Paving Corp., said Randy Walker, Clark County director of aviation. "On behalf of the Clark County Department of Aviation, I want to personally extend our collective condolences to the friends, family and co-workers affected by this tragic event," Walker said in a statement. The worker has not been identified. He was 25 years old and from Hawaii, said Joe Taylor, a representative of the Laborer Union's Labor Management Fund. He had been a member of the local union since October, Taylor said. According to Taylor, the laborer was working on a ditch at the terminal roadways site at about 1 p.m. when the operator of a Bobcat earth mover lost control of his vehicle and ran the worker over.


Postal worker killed after falling on stake

February 23, Kalamazoo, Michigan - A tragic accident in Kalamazoo County has claimed the life of a local postal worker. Family members say 50-year-old Jeff Walantyn of Otsego died over the weekend. He fell on a stake while delivering mail Friday in Kalamazoo. Relatives say they kept him on life support long enough to donate his organs.


UPDATE

Authorities identify worker killed by industrial tank in northwest Dallas 3:32 PM CT

February 23, Dallas, Texas - A 45-year-old worker was killed today in northwest Dallas when a large tank fell and rolled on top of him, officials said. The man was identified as Greg Pitcher, according to the Dallas County medical examiner's office. Dallas police said the industrial accident happened just before noon at Environmental Testing Laboratory, 11034 Indian Trail, near Royal Lane and Harry Hines Boulevard.


Dallas Contract Worker Killed Large tank topples on victim

February 23, Dallas, Texas - A Dallas Contract worker died Monday after a piece of equipment fell and crushed him at a Dallas business, Dallas Fire Rescue officials said. KXAS TV reports it happened at about 11:50 a.m. at an Environmental Testing Lab. The 45-year-old man was apparently cleaning a large tank used to hold liquids when the tank toppled over and crushed him, a Dallas police spokesman said. He was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has not been released.


Homeless shelter resident shoots, kills employee

February 24, Pheonix, Arizona - The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting that happened near a Valley homeless shelter. The shooting happened just down the street from the Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) near 12th Avenue and Madison Street. A sheriff's deputy working nearby heard the shots and responded. He was able to take the suspect into custody. George Overturf, 60, is accused of killing a homeless shelter manager. Kevin Collins, 47, died at St. Joseph's Hospital. He had worked for CASS for five years.The suspect, who has been identified as George Overturf, 60, is a resident of the shelter.