Weekly Toll

Ray Mine worker killed in vehicle accident at mine

September 28, Kearny, Arizona,- Government inspectors are looking into a truck crash that killed a worker at Asarco's Ray Mine near Kearny. An assistant inspector with the office of the Arizona mine inspector, Tim Evans, says 29-year-old Robert Christopher Stewart of Globe drove the truck into a berm Sunday while making a turn and the truck flipped. Stewart was pronounced dead at the scene. He had worked at the mine for more than 2 1/2 years. Asarco's chief executive officer, Joseph Lapinsky, released a statement saying the company is cooperating fully with the investigation.


School worker killed by Fed Ex truck

September 28, Rosenburg, Texas - Rosenberg Police were called to a automobile and pedestrian accident at the Lamar Consolidated School District's bus barn located along Ave I in Rosenberg. Officers arrived at the location to find a male LCISD employee had been hit, allegedly by a Fed Ex delivery truck. Police say the truck was leaving the bus barn facility after making a delivery when the driver struck a pedestrian. The driver reportedly did not see the pedestrian, as the pedestrian was in the vehicle's blind spot.


Accident at ASARCO's Ray Mine kills employee

September 28, Kearny, Arizona - An ASARCO employee died in an accident early Sunday morning, at the Company's Ray Mine near Kearny, Arizona. The haul truck he was driving made contact with a safety berm and tipped on its side. Officials tell us the cause of the accident is unknown. No one else was injured in the incident. "ASARCO is cooperating fully with federal and state authorities in their investigation of this accident," said Joseph F. Lapinsky, President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our sympathy and prayers go out to family members, friends and fellow miners who are affected by this loss," he said.


UPDATED: Deceased IP worker is identified

September 28, Mansfield, Louisiana — Authorities have identified the contract worker killed today at International Paper Company’s Mansfield Mill as Toby Lynn Gardner, 35, of Castor. Gardner died shortly after noon today when he fell into a linerboard white water tank that holds recycled water used in the paper making process. Gardner was working from a catwalk on a valve above the tank when he fell in, DeSoto sheriff’s Sgt. Brett Cooper said. The tank, which is about three stories tall, was not full, but the water was about 150 to 200 degrees.


Road Construction Worker Killed in Beaverton

September 26, Beaverton, Oregon - Update: The person killed today in the road construction incident has been identified by police as 51 year old John Thomas Sparks. Mr. Sparks was killed this afternoon, according to Beaverton Police. Detective Sergeant James Shumway, says officers were called to the road construction accident on SW 173rd near SW Walker Road in Beaverton at 3:47 p.m. "Officers arrived to learn that a road construction worker was killed when one of the dump trucks involved in the repaving backed over him. The male victim was pronounced dead at the scene."


Utility worker killed in Indiana County

September 26, Brookville, Indiana - A utility worker from Brookville, Jefferson County, was killed yesterday afternoon when he was struck by a coal truck while standing near Route 422 in Indiana County.Robert S. Conner Sr., 48, was working on the south shoulder of Route 422 near Parkwood Road shortly after noon Friday when he was struck by a truck driven by Carl White, 59, of Avonmore, Westmoreland County. Mr. Conner was pronounced dead at the Indiana Regional Medical Center at 12:56 p.m.


Farm worker dies from fall in grain bin

September 25, Columbus, Ohio - A worker fell to his death this morning while cleaning the inside of an Ohio Fresh Eggs grain bin in Marion County. Fermin Luna Garcia was on a ladder when he fell at least 15 feet and landed on the bin's metal floor. Authorities said Garcia, 50, lived in La Rue and was a subcontractor hired by the egg farm. The Scioto Valley Fire District was called to the scene near Rts. 309 and 37 at 8:30 a.m., said Chief John Boyd. He said Garcia was dead when emergency crews arrived.


Lee Co. deputy dies in the line of duty

September 24, Smiths Station, Alabama - A Lee County Sheriff's deputy has died of injuries suffered in the line of duty. He is identified as 39-year-old Deputy James Anderson, a three-year veteran to the department. Anderson was rushed to Columbus Medical Center around 1:00pm Thursday in critical condition. He died a short time later. The man accused of running him down with a car, 31-year-old Gregory Lance Henderson of Columbus, Georgia is being held in the Russell County Jail. He now faces one count of Capital Murder.


Wrightsville construction worker killed in accident

September 25, Hancock County, Georgia - One worker was killed and four others were hurt Wednesday in an accident at the Hickory Grove Baptist Church construction site in Hancock County. Timothy Tyrone Dixon, 32, of Wrightsville, died from injuries he sustained when roof rafters fell as crews were setting them in place, said Ricky Brown, an investigator with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office. Two other members of the Hines Construction crew were airlifted to Augusta with serious injuries: James Anthony Hines, 39, of Wrightsville, and Edward Lawrence of Hancock County, whose age was not immediately available, Brown said.


Worker dies at Sugar Camp mine

September Franklin County, Illinois - An Elizabethtown man died Wednesday night as the result of injuries suffered in a fall at a Franklin County coal mine. Robert Comer III was pronounced dead on arrival at 10:48 p.m. Wednesday at the Franklin Hospital Emergency Room, Franklin County Coroner Marty P. Leffler said. Comer was an employee for a company that was sinking the shaft at the Sugar Creek M-Class Mine north of Akin, Leffler said.


Officer dies after car crash

September 24, Townson, Maryland - Baltimore County police say a seven-year veteran of the force has died after a single-vehicle accident on Black Rock Road.
Thirty-two-year-old Jason Simons died after he was flown to Shock Trauma. Police said Simons, who was off duty, was on his way to work about 1:40 p.m. Thursday. Officers say he was traveling east on Black Rock Road in his pickup truck when he lost control of the vehicle on sharp turn on the wet roadway. The truck hit a guardrail and flipped onto its top, trapping the officer. The crash is under investigation.


Addison man killed in tractor accident

September 24, Northfield, Maine — Jonathan Brock, 21, of Addison was killed Thursday morning when the tractor he was operating plummeted off a wooden bridge over the Machias River in a remote area of Washington County near Holmes Falls. Brock was coming down an incline and was hauling an empty utility trailer when he apparently lost control, Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy Brandon Parker said. The 80-foot-long wooden bridge has small wooden bumpers along its outside edge that were visibly chewed up by the tractor as it left the bridge deck.


Idaho construction accident - Pocatello, ID construction worker buried alive!

September 23, Pocatello, Idaho — A construction worker was killed after a 10-foot deep trench collapsed and buried the man alive. The worker was reportedly working on a sewer line project. The construction accident happened on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 at a construction site on the corner of North Kraft Road and North Gathe Road, as reported by KIFI. According to the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, Kelly Smith was working on a sewer line project just eight feet away from a trench box, which is designed to keep the workers safe, when the trench collapsed and buried the worker alive. It is currently unknown why the trench gave way.


Worker Killed At Sugar Camp Mine Franklin Co.

September 23, Franklin Co., Illinois - A southern Illinois man was killed Wednesday night at the Sugar Camp Mine off Thompsonville Road in Franklin County. Robert Comer III, 38, of Elizabethtown, Illinois, was working for Cowin Company -- an independent contractor -- that was sinking the shaft for the mine, according to Franklin County Coroner Marty Leffler. Comer was among a group of workers pouring concrete. It appears Comer was moving his safety harness when he stepped through an opening in the raised work platform above the shaft and fell 39 feet. He was air lifted to Franklin Hospital in Benton. He was pronounced dead at 10:48 PM, according to Leffler.


BNSF Worker Killed Near Hereford

September 23, Hereford, Texas - A worker with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad was killed Wednesday near Hereford. The Deaf Smith County Justice of the Peace's office says Larry Craig Green was working near the track around 6:30 Wednesday morning when he was hit by a train. The incident happened near the old Caviness meat plant about three miles west of Hereford on highway 60. It is unclear right now how the events transpired. Green was 54 years old.


Teacher killed in stabbing at high school in Texas

September 23, Tyler, Texas — Police say a teacher has been stabbed to death at a high school in Texas. Tyler police spokesman Don Martin says the male teacher was stabbed around 9 a.m. Wednesday. Authorities have taken a juvenile into custody after the attack at John Tyler High School. No other details were immediately released. Martin referred further questions to the school spokeswoman, who did not immediately return messages left by The Associated Press. Tyler is located about 95 miles southeast of Dallas.


AP source: Census worker hanged with 'fed' on body

September 23, Washington, D.C. — The FBI is investigating the hanging death of a U.S. Census worker near a Kentucky cemetery. A law enforcement official says the word "fed" was scrawled on his chest. The body of Bill Sparkman, a 51-year-old Census field worker and occasional teacher, was found Sept. 12 in the Daniel Boone National Forest in rural southeast Kentucky. Investigators have said little about the case.


Ferry Worker Fatally Hit By SUV

September 23, Port Aransas, Texas - An accident at the Port Aransas ferry crossing has left a man dead. The accident happened around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday on the Aransas Pass side of the ferry crossing. A lane has been closed off at the Harbor Island Ferry Landing ever since 5:30 p.m. Tuesday evening when a 23-year-old woman driving an Explorer hit and killed a ferry traffic director. Preliminary investigations suggest Jeronda Horton, 23, was driving off the ferry when she had an epileptic seizure. Horton lost control of her Ford Explorer and struck
Tommy Lee Rubell, Jr., 32, and slammed into a light pole. Police believe it was Horton's vehicle that caused Rubell's fatal injuries, not the pole.


7-Eleven Employee Killed During Shift

September 23, Irvine, California - In February 2003, Suresh Dass came to the United States looking for what many people are hopeful for in the land of opportunity: a better life. Dass, an immigrant from the North Indian city of Kurukshetra, had held a career as an assistant professor. After being sponsored to come to the United States by his sister, Mona Bhatia, Dass began working the graveyard shift at the 7-Eleven on Culver Drive and Deerfield Avenue. On the morning of March 2 at around 2:20 a.m., two men walked into the store pushed Dass to the ground and reportedly beat and stabbed him to death, as shown on a two-minute surveillance video. According to Lt. Jeff Love of the Irvine Police Department, the two men quickly ran out of the store after unsuccessfully trying to pry the cash register open.


Woman dies of injuries in Vermont eatery crash

September 23, Williston, Vermont — One of five people injured when a pickup truck crashed into a Williston, Vt., food stand has died. Hospital officials say 68-year-old Barbara Gregory died Tuesday following the Sept. 17 crash at Tim’s Snack Shack. She was ordering food when the crash happened. One of injured remains hospitalized in fair condition. Police said the accident happened when 38-year-old Timothy Hill of Williston apparently lost consciousness while driving. Police said Hill, a construction worker, said he had been hit in the head with a shovel shortly before leaving work.


Sam's worker dies of injuries

September 23, Salina, Kansas - A Sam’s Club employee who was injured Friday in a forklift incident died Monday, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident.Shaun D. Smith, 31, of Salina, was flown to Wichita’s Wesley Medical Center following the incident, which occurred about 5 a.m. Friday at Sam’s Club, 2919 Market. He remained in critical condition until he died Monday...He had also worked for the former Lamone Candy and Tobacco Co. for several years.


Worker dies in accident at new high school

September 23, Trinity, California — A man measuring equipment at Wheatmore High School was found dead Tuesday night inside the school in what authorities are calling an accident. Cleaning personnel had noticed a work van parked outside the school but had not seen anyone working, according to a news release from the Randolph County Sheriff's Office. They searched the school to look for the van's driver before leaving for the day. Maintenance workers later found the body of John Wayne Neal of Randleman about 10 p.m. He was at the base of a stairway that leads to the air-handling units on the second floor. Neal had been at the new school to measure air-handling units for filters, and he had not been heard from since mid-day on Tuesday, according to the sheriff's office.


Construction Worker Dies in Accident

September 24, Hidalgo County, Texas - Raquel Garcia Mata, 28, says she can't talk about her husband's death. She can't let her kids see her cry anymore. She did say she'd talk about the accident though. An accident claimed the life of her husband, Urbano Garcia Mata. His wife says it's not fair. She says her husband shouldn't have been up there, unprotected without a harness or safety net. Urbano Mata was working in Alton just off Conway and 5 Mile. He was putting up a sign. He and his boss decided to stop, because it was too hot. A week later, he would die in the hospital from massive brain injuries after falling 25 feet.


Man crushed to death in paper compactor

September 23, Camden, Arkansas - Officials say a worker at a paper recycling facility in Camden was crushed to death in a paper compactor. Camden police say 42-year-old Mike Singleton was extinguishing a fire in the machine Monday afternoon when the machine unexpectedly turned on. The accident occurred at the Paper Tigers Inc. plant at the city's former International Paper mill.


Worker killed after touching live wire on power pole

September 22, San Clemente, CA – A 22-year-old man working on an electrical pole was killed Tuesday after apparently touching a live wire, according to coroner officials. Paramedics with the Orange County Fire Authority attempted to resuscitate Aaron Dineen for about an hour after he was electrocuted near El Camino Real and Avenida Valencia, said Battalion Chief Kris Concepcion of the Orange County Fire Authority.


Man killed Monday identified

September 22, Corpus Christi, Texas — A man who died during a suspected fight Monday between two employees at a recycling business in Petronila has been identified as Hector Veliz, 53, of Honduras, police said. Veliz’s preliminary cause of death is multiple gunshot wounds, Dr. Harminder Narula, forensic pathologist with the Nueces County Medical Examiner’s Office, determined Tuesday. The preliminary results show Veliz had three gunshot wounds, according to medical examiner officials. Nueces County Sheriff’s Department officials initially reported Veliz suffered gunshot and stab wounds.



Utility worker dies after burns

September 22, Florence, Wisconsin - A Coleman man has died after being shocked and burned while working on a power line. The Florence County Sheriff’s Office said 28-year-old Michael Rhode died as a result of the injuries suffered Saturday morning. Officials said a neighbor found Rhode hanging from his safety harness about 40 feet in the air. His clothes were burned off, but he was still conscious. He was initially flown to a burn center for treatment.


Two Dead Following Workplace Shooting

September 21, Fresno, California - Sheriff’s Deputies say James Badasci shot and killed a fellow employee at the Fresno Euipment Company near Chestnut and Highway 99 Tuesday morning, before taking his own life. The shooting happened on South Bagley near Malaga around 9:00 AM in Fresno County. Employees heard the shots fired and ran for cover and called 911 for help. Deputies arrived at the scene within 6 minutes and surrounded the facility before entering the rear of the business. Once inside, they found two men dead from gunshot wounds.

President Gerard,


This may seem like an unusual request but I want to clear this with you before I attempt it. I lost my first wife 11 years ago almost to the day and now I have found out my

Daughter , who is 30 years old, has two tumors on her liver and she is going in for a biopsy this coming week. We are praying that it is not cancerous but the Doctors are not so optimistic. Since my family has endured loss before, we understand the strength of Prayer.

My daughter is of the generation that has to work two jobs to make ends meet and of course she finds herself without medical insurance. That part of it is secondary to us as a family , for we are seeking Prayers I have a lot of confidence in the fact that the Organization I work for and have done so for 25 years , can help my family through Prayer.

Is it possible that your office could send this e-mail through our distribution ( e-mail ) system and ask our brothers and sisters to Pray for my daughter.


Her name is Renee Deschaine. As her father, I refuse to feel helpless .


Lucien Deschaine
Representative
District 4
Maine

Ok if any families are interested in this please do contact me it would be a great opportunity and you get to hear Jordan Speak!

Friday – November 6
9 AM– 5 AM - Philadelphia Holiday Inn Historic District [4th and Arch]
National COSH H&S in Construction Program - Come meet with Health and Safety professionals from around the country and many local activists to discuss the latest issues facing construction workers. This will include panels and workshops with many local and regional industry experts including representation from union, OSHA, academia and community organizations. [$10 Registration to Tom O’Connor at oconnorta@gmail.com]

8 PM – 12 PM – Annual National COSH Awards Banquet [Holiday Inn]
This event will recognize national and local efforts to promote health and safety for all workers. [Contact Tom O’Connor at oconnorta@gmail.com for more information]

Saturday - November 7
9 AM– 5 AM – Philaposh Office and AFSCME DC 33 Building - 3001 Walnut Street, 5th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19104
2009 National Health and Safety Summit – The Protecting Workers Alliance is sponsoring this important discussion about the next steps for activating grassroots support for important H&S legislative initiatives including PAWA. The Summit will include Families, COSH Activists and OSH Professionals from around the country to develop an action plan for the next year to lobby and pass new protections for all workers. Topics will include Ergonomics Reform, Immigrant H&S protections, Toxic Chemical policy and Family and Victim Rights. Jordan Barab will be our luncheon speaker. [$10 Registration to Tom O’Connor at oconnorta@gmail.com]

Sunday – November 8
5:45 PM – 8:30 PM - SangKee Chinese Restaurant 238 N 9th St Restaurant [five blocks from Convention Center]
APHA OHS Section Social Hour – Come join us as we celebrate and mingle to get our 2009 meeting in gear. There will be some delicious complementary food with a cash bar. There will be a short program at 7 PM to recognize some great people doing incredible work in H&S.

more on the 8th here

Worker killed by bulldozer at Austin Pike interchange identified

Miami Township, Montgomery County, Ohio — A construction worker from West Milton was killed Saturday morning, Sept. 19, when he fell from the bulldozer he was operating and got caught in the vehicle’s tracks. The Montgomery County coroner’s office identified the victim as Russell A. Fox, 50. An autopsy is to be done today. Fox, an employee of the Kelchner company, was moving earth at the Austin Pike interchange project along Interstate 75 at about 10:45 a.m. when, for some unknown reason, he fell from the bulldozer, said Deputy Chief John DiPietro of the Miami Twp. police.


Yale case puts issue of workplace violence in spotlight

September 17, New Haven, Connecticut - The killing of a Yale University graduate student, and the subsequent arrest of her co-worker, may be an indication that anti-violence policies in the workplace are inadequate, experts said. New Haven police Thursday charged Raymond Clark III, 24, with murder in the suffocation death of Annie Le, 24. Clark is a university lab technician in the research building where Le worked. Although no motive was given, New Haven police Chief James Lewis told reporters Thursday the crime was an instance of workplace violence, and indicative of a growing trend across the nation. But, with a few exceptions, labor statistics show that murders in the workplace have decrease


Police identify victim of plant accident

September 17, Concord, New Hampshire - The police have identified the man killed in a forklift accident Tuesday night at a Concord recycling plant as 33-year-old Todd Leach of Concord. Little new information about the accident at the Advanced Recycling plant was available yesterday, however, and a spokesman for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said he couldn't anticipate how long an investigation would take. Until that's finished, OSHA will not release information about the accident, and employees of Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc., the operator of the plant, said that barred them from discussing the circumstances.


Gillette man dies in mishap

September 16, Gillette, Wyoming - A 44-year-old Gillette man was killed Monday when a large wall of dirt collapsed on him during a work mishap. Authorities say David Allen Larson, a contractor for BNSF Railway, died while helping replace a culvert in Converse County. The mishap happened at about 9:30 a.m. on Highway 59, 26 miles north of Douglas, Converse County Sheriff Clint Becker said in a statement. A large wall of dirt collapsed on top of Larson when the culvert was removed.


Friends, Relatives Mourn Death of Detention Deputy

September 20, Bartow, Florida - As the funeral began, a solemn sea of green uniforms parted to make way for the family of fallen Polk County detention sergeant Ronnie Brown...Brown was 48 years old when he died Sept. 8 from complications after surgery to repair his broken back. He had been injured in an altercation Aug. 30 with Terrence Barnett, an inmate at South County Jail in Frostproof.


Family, friends mourn guard killed outside bank

September 19, Dallas, Texas - A deadly ATM ambush has left a family without their anchor. Family members of an armored car guard, shot and killed at a Dallas bank, are coming from all over Texas and Mexico to say goodbye. Cresencio Borquez drove more than 60 miles every day from his neighborhood in Melissa to his job in the Dallas area. His neighbors admired his daily sacrifice, but the 46-year-old husband and father, never came home Friday night.


Worker killed by bulldozer at Austin Pike interchange identified

September 18, Montgomery County — A construction worker from West Milton was killed Saturday morning, Sept. 19, when he fell from the bulldozer he was operating and got caught in the vehicle’s tracks. The Montgomery County coroner’s office identified the victim as Russell A. Fox, 50. An autopsy is to be done today . Fox, an employee of the Kelchner company, was moving earth at the Austin Pike interchange project along Interstate 75 at about 10:45 a.m. when, for some unknown reason, he fell from the bulldozer, said Deputy Chief John DiPietro of the Miami Twp. police.


Tree trimmer killed in 40 foot fall in West Boynton Beach, worker identified

September 18, The deceased in this accident has been identified as 27 year old Nicholas Vitrano. Preliminary investigation indicates that Vitrano, who owns Team Expo Inc., was on a 40' ladder being held by an employee and the homeowner in order to cut branches from a tree. Vitrano climbed the ladder with a pole saw. Before Vitrano was able to hook his safety belt around the tree, the saw touched the power line giving Vitrano a shock and sending him off the ladder. Cause of death is unknown at this time, whether it is electrocution or from the impact after the fall. This case will go to the medical examiners office for determination.


Postal worker fatally shot along route

September 18, Maple Heights, Ohio - A coroner's office spokesman says a 53-year-old postal carrier died several hours after being shot in the head while delivering mail in Maple Heights, Ohio. The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported Friday that Daniel Kondas of Garfield Heights, Ohio, was shot Thursday morning while making his first deliveries of the day.


Upstate NY worker dies in garage explosion

September 18, Syracuse, New York - A 77-year-old Syracuse man is dead after an explosion at a Syracuse auto garage. Fire officials say an employee of K&C Auto Body Center was preparing 55-gallon steel barrels for disposal outside the garage when one exploded just before 11:30 a.m. Friday. The injured man was taken to University Hospital, where he died a short time later. Authorities say his name is being withheld until relatives are notified of his death.


Man Dies In Forklift Accident

September 18, Corpus Christi, Texas - A local tire service worker was killed Friday morning in a forklift accident. The accident happened around 9:30 a.m. Friday morning at the H&S Constructors Property on Valero Way. However, it was not an H&S worker who was killed. KRIS 6 News told the victim was with Strouhal Tire Service and was in the process of changing a tire on a forklift when something went wrong. He was taken to the hospital.


Man who fell from pole barn dies of injuries

September 17, Shakopee, Minnesota - The 49-year-old Shakopee man who fell about 14 feet from a pole barn in the 7400 block of Casey Parkway in Credit River Township on Tuesday morning has died. Douglas Edmund Busch was airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis after the fall, where he was listed in critical condition on Wednesday. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner today confirmed that Busch died.


PD: Missing nuclear power plant worker found dead

September 17, Glendale, Arizona – Glendale police confirmed on Thursday that a nuclear power plant worker missing since Saturday was found dead in his car, apparently having committed suicide. According to officials, the man was found in his vehicle, a silver Honda Ridgeline, in Yavapai County. Cornelius "Neil" Hardy was last seen at his home near 69th Avenue and Deer Valley Road Saturday night, according to Glendale police spokeswoman Karen Gerardo.


Roof worker dies after accident

September 17, Davenport, Iowa - An unidentified man died Thursday after falling from a roof he was working on at a house in Mt. Joy, according to the Scott County Sheriff's Department. Sheriff deputies and Eldridge police officers responded at 9:27 a.m. to a medical emergency at 20644 Brady Street. When they arrived, they found the man on the ground with serious head injuries, according to a release from the sheriff's department. Medics treated the man at the scene before transporting him to Genesis Medical Center, East Rusholme Street, Davenport, where he was pronounced dead


Crushed worker could have easily been avoided - chock the wheels

September 17, Des Moins, Iowa - Chocking the wheels and setting the parking brake would probably have saved the life of this liquid asphalt truck driver. OSHA fined a trucking company $9,100 for failing to use precautionary measures that allowed a truck loaded with liquid asphalt to roll, crushing the worker between two trucks. The driver was 62-year-old Brian Cellar.


Officials name worker killed in Clay County construction accident

September 17, Clay County, Missouri - The Missouri Highway Patrol has identified a 57-year-old worker who died Wednesday in a construction accident near Excelsior Springs as William Ormsby. The Kansas City, Kan., resident was operating an asphalt roller when the accident occurred around 11:30 a.m. at a bridge construction site where N.E. 144th Street crosses over Williams Creek northwest of Excelsior Springs


Connecticut Construction Accident: Worker at Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. plant killed!

September 17, Concord, Conecticut – A worker at Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. factory was killed after being trapped underneath a forklift Tuesday evening, announced the Concord-Monitor. The Advanced Recycling factory worker suffered fatal injuries after he was crushed to death by a forklift. No one at the factory would comment on the industrial accident as of yet. Police and Fire Rescue officials reported to the scene. Authorities have not released how the accident occurred.The Steel factory employee was identified as 33-year-old Todd Leach announced WMUR.


Construction worker killed when wall falls

September 17, Lake Charles, Louisiana - The Calcasieu Parish Coroner's Office has identified a construction worker who died after a frame wall fell on him. Chief investigator Zeb Johnson said Wednesday that 32-year-old Jose Morales and another man were rushed to Lake Charles Memorial Hospital Tuesday. Johnson said it appeared that winds shifted the wall and caused it to fall. Morales was pronounced dead on arrival at the emergency room. The other man is reportedly in serious condition.


Construction Worker Killed After Equipment Falls on Him

September 16, Clay County, Missouri - A worker is dead after a construction accident Wednesday afternoon when a roller fell on him near Excelsior Springs, Mo. According to Highway Patrol, the crew of 15-20 people were laying asphalt on a new section of roadway in the 25,000 block of NE 143rd Street in Clay County. The roller was too close to the edge of the road and started to go off the road. The operator jumped out of the machine. But, the equipment fell on top of him. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. The employee is said to have been an employee with Phillips Paving for more than 10 years.


Family: Mobile Home Worker Killed In Collapse Died Trying To “Help Us”

September 15, Asheville, North Carolina - 53 year old Nathaniel Teasley never had much. Still, his family says, what he did have he gave away. “To me, he was the best father in the world,“ says daughter Tiffany. She says that’s one of the reasons Teasley ended up in Anderson County. He and his brother in law had agreed to take apart a mobile home off Travis Road. The property owner wanted it removed because it had become an eyesore. Teasley offered to do the job for free. He only wanted the scrap lumber, so he could sell it at a junkyard and provide for his family. “Anything he could do, he would do it,“ says Tiffany. “And that was for anyone. If he could do anything to help anyone, that’s what he would do."The family never imagined Teasley’s huge heart would lead to tragedy. The two men were taking down the 40 year old home around 12:00 on Tuesday afternoon. That’s when the property owner says the whole thing suddenly collapsed. Teasley was trapped inside, underneath 5000 pounds of wood, and never made it out.


Fatal accident at recycling plant

September 16, Concord, New Hampshire - A man was trapped under a forklift and killed last night in an accident at a Concord recycling plant, though police and fire officials wouldn't say how it happened. Concord Fire Battalion Chief Aaron McIntire said emergency responders were called to the Advanced Recycling plant on Sandquist Street for reports of a man trapped under a forklift. When they got there, he was dead. He had suffered "crushing injuries," McIntire said. McIntire and others there did not identify the man. Officials would not say whether he was an employee or where he lived.


Charleston gathers to mourn patrolman killed on duty

September 16, Charleston, Virginia - On Wednesday, family, friends and fellow officers gathered for Patrolman Jerry Jones’ funeral. Virginia Street was blocked off and police officers from around the state lined up to pay their respects to Jones. Early Sunday morning, Jones, 27, tried to apprehend a driver who had been ramming cars on the West Side of Charleston. A police chase ensued, and the driver was cornered on a gravel lot in Pinch. When he began ramming the police cars with his pickup truck, officers opened fire. Both Jones and the driver were killed.


Man dead after trench collapse in Pocatello

September 16, Pocatello, Idaho - A man is dead after a trench he was working in collapsed Wednesday morning. It happened around 11 a.m. Crews were working on a sewer line in a 10 foot deep trench when a portion of it collapsed. The man who was trapped was working outside of the trench box, which provides protection in case of a problem. Workers on scene and emergency responders attempted to dig the man out of the dirt, but after two hours they are still trying to get his body out. Mike Williams, Pocatello Assitant Fire Chief said, "We'd strongly urge anybody inside of a trench, be inside of a box, be safe, don't take a chance, take the time to move the box when you need to."


Worker dies from injuries in construction accident

September 16, Kansas City, Missouri - A worker died today from injuries suffered in a construction accident near Excelsior Springs. The accident occurred about 11:30 a.m. at a bridge construction site where N.E. 144th Street crosses over Williams Creek northwest of Excelsior Springs, according to Leslie Ensign, director of community relations for Clay County. Details of the accident, including the name of the worker, were not available, Ensign said. The name of the company involved was not being released pending notification of the victim’s family.


Gillette man dies in mishap

September 16, Gillette, A 44-year-old Gillette man was killed Monday when a large wall of dirt collapsed on him during a work mishap. Authorities say David Allen Larson, a contractor for BNSF Railway, died while helping replace a culvert in Converse County. The mishap happened at about 9:30 a.m. on Highway 59, 26 miles north of Douglas, Converse County Sheriff Clint Becker said in a statement. A large wall of dirt collapsed on top of Larson when the culvert was removed. Workers scrambled to dig him out but failed to revive him. Larson was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:04 a.m. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the accident, Becker said.


Prem Kumar Walekar, 54, of Olney, Md. Killed Oct. 3 at a Mobil gas station in Aspen Hill, Md., while filling his cab with gas.


Person Killed In Concord Forklift Accident

September 15, Concord, New Hampshire - An emergency call at about 5 p.m. indicated the employee was crushed by a forklift at Schnitzer Steel, also known as Advanced Recycling, at 25 Sandquist Road. The identity of the victim and the circumstances of the accident were not immediately released. "Upon arrival, the forklift had been removed from the male victim, at which time, our crews pronounced it a fatality," Concord Fire Battalion Chief Aaron McIntire said.


Metro Loses Another as Rail Accident Victim Dies

September 15, Washington, D.C. - The Metro employee who was struck by a train last week died Monday, becoming the most recent fatality in a series of tragic events afflicting the system's operations in recent months.John Moore, 44, of Arlington County, a communications technician, died four days after being hit by a train between the National Airport and Braddock Road stations, Metro said. Moore was the third Metro employee to die on the job since the June 22 Red Line crash in which a train operator and eight passengers were killed. In addition, a subcontractor was electrocuted at a Metro bus garage.


Fulton logger killed by falling tree

September 14, Atlanta, Georgia - For more than 70 years, trees have sustained the Thompson family in south Fulton County. They have made a living from clearing land and selling timber. But on Monday, the family was reminded again that the staple of their success has also brought them heartbreak. John F. Thompson III, 60, died Monday when a tree fell on him outside his Chattahoochee Hills home -- the same way and the same place his father was critically injured, police said.


Metro worker hit by train dies

September 12, WASHINGTON, D.C. - Metro says an employee who was struck by a train last week has died. Metro says 44-year-old John Moore, of Arlington, Va., died Monday of injuries suffered in Thursday's accident. The communications technician was hit by a six-car train between the Braddock Road and Reagan National Airport stations.


Man dies after being pinned by truck, trailer

September 11, Fort Campbell, Tennessee - A man died Thursday after he was pinned between a truck and a trailer at Clayton Homes. At about 11:35 a.m., 911 received a call about a worker hurt at the business on Alfred Thun Road, according to Clarksville Police spokesman Officer Jim Knoll. Apparently workers were trying to hook a mobile home to a truck, but a cedar tree was in the way, Knoll said. The trailer was on blocks. Workers used a chain to try to pull the trailer over to get it onto the ball of the truck. The blocks gave way, and the vehicles came together, pinning a worker in between, Knoll said. People at the scene were able to free the man, but his injuries were severe. Emergency Medical Services Capt. Gary Perry said when paramedics arrived the man had gone into cardiac arrest. He was taken to Gateway Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.


Man dies after collapse in Bedford Co.

September 11, Bedford Co., Virginia - The Bedford Co. Sheriff’s Office says they were called to 4177 Falling Creek Rd Friday afternoon concerning a trench collapse. The caller advised dispatchers that a man was trapped. Once on scene, rescue workers and deputies did find a man trapped. They say 38-year-old Michael Lapradd of Moneta was pronounced dead a short time later.


Man Crushed Under Front-End Loader

September 11, Boston, Massachusetts - Halifax fire officials said a worker at the Liddell Brothers Inc. plant was killed Thursday evening when the front-end loader he was operating tipped over, pinning him beneath the cab. They said the unidentified 29-year-old man was operating it as a forklift when it rolled onto its left side, trapping him about 6:20 p.m. Other workers used a larger forklift to lift the vehicle off him but he massive head, chest and abdominal injuries, the Patriot Ledger reported. He was pronounced dead at the Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital.


Officials Release Name Of Worker Killed By Gas Leak

September 11, Stockport, Ohio - Kenneth L Hanson, 28, died in the accident. Officials with Chipco Oil and Gas Service said that Hanson was the Service Rig Operator at the site. News9 was also told by company officials that Hanson was from Stockport, Ohio, where he was a fireman. Aaron Dumolt, one of five others injured, remains in the ICU at Ohio State Hospital


Worker electrocuted at thrift center

September Houston, Texas - A worker has been killed in an accident at a family thrift center. Around 1:40pm, the man was working inside a wall as a crew was installing a sign at a business on Bellaire Boulevard near Marinette. The man was severely shocked. By the time the crew was able to turn off the power and reach the victim, he was already dead. The victim's name has not been released.


Worker Dies After Inhaling Deadly Gas In Ohio

September 10, Antrim, Ohio - A fire official says one man died and four others were sent to hospitals after a work crew shutting down a natural-gas well in eastern Ohio encountered a pocket of deadly gas. Antrim Fire Chief Don Warnock says firefighters found several men suffering the effects of gas inhalation Thursday after being dispatched to a vacant field in Guernsey County on report of a gas leak. Warnock says the work crew was flushing the well with water when they disturbed a pocket of hydrogen sulfide, commonly known as sour or poison gas. He says one of the workers fell to the ground when he inhaled the gas, and the other workers were overcome when they tried to help him.


Worker electrocuted at supermarket work site in Stow

September 10, Stow, Massachusetts — An Athol man was electrocuted while working on renovations at a Stow supermarket last week. Stow Police Chief Mark Trefrey said the 33-year-old electrician was killed Sept. 1 while working on the expansion of Shaw's Supermarket, 150 Great Road. Police are withholding the name of the electrician. Police and fire personnel received calls for medical assistance at 2:50 p.m., according to police records. The Maynard Fire Department was also called for assistance. Trefrey said the man was either working on the roof or the second floor.


Concrete slab crushes truck driver

September 9, Valley City, Ohio - A 61-year-old Ohio man died after he was crushed by a slab of concrete at a construction site on M-59 in Livingston County this morning. Richard Browand, a truck driver from Medina working for Mack Transport Inc. of Valley City, Ohio, had been hauling concrete slabs for a construction job between Grand River and Byron Road in Howell Township. The piece fell off the tractor trailer at 7:53 a.m. while it was being unloaded, according to the Livingston County Sheriff Department.


Polk deputy dies after violent struggle with inmate

September 9, Polk County, Florida - A Polk County Sheriff's Deputy has died following a violent run-in with an inmate. Detention Sergeant Ronnie Brown was trying to restrain the out-of-control inmate at South County Jail when he fractured a vertebrae. Detectives are trying to determine whether to charge the inmate, Terrence Barnett, with murder. Barnett, who was already being held for a murder in Highlands County, became violent and broke the fire sprinkler head in his cell, causing water to continuously spray.


Set of wheels kills worker on I-80 in Nebraska

September 9, Chappell, Nebraska - A highway worker was killed and two others injured by a set of wheels that broke off a semitrailer on Interstate 80 in Nebraska's Panhandle. The Nebraska State Patrol says the set broke off around 3:15 p.m. Tuesday east of Chappell. The set bounded onto the median and struck a Nebraska Department of Roads pickup in the driver's door. Fifty-3-year-old Robyn Pittman of North Platte was killed. She was standing near the door.


Washington man killed in incident at dock

September 8, Thorne Bay, Washington - A Washington man died Tuesday in an early morning industrial accident in Thorne Bay, according to Alaska State Troopers. Troopers say Robert Lundberg, 46, of Ocean Shores, Wash., was pronounced dead at the Alicia Roberts Medical Center in Klawock following the accident. The accident took place about 4 a.m. at the Northland Barge Services dock in Thorne Bay. Troopers spokeswoman Megan Peters said she did not have, nor could she get, any further information on the incident.


Accident kills worker at Stow supermarket construction site

September 8, Stow, Massachusetts - An Athol resident was fatally injured last week while working on renovations at a Stow supermarket. Stow Police Chief Mark Trefrey said the 33-year-old electrician was electrocuted on Tuesday, Sept. 1, while working on the expansion of Shaw’s Supermarket on Great Road in Stow. Police are withholding the name of the electrician. At 2:50 p.m., the Stow police and fire departments were called for medical assistance to 150 Great Road, according to police records. Trefrey said the Maynard Fire Department was also called for assistance due to the location of the accident. Trefrey said the man was either on the roof or the second floor when the accident happened.


Police Look At Surveillance Video In TSU Death

September 8, Nashville, Tennessee - Metro police said they are looking at surveillance video from a Tennessee State University poultry farm where a longtime worker was found dead on Tuesday afternoon from multiple stab wounds and blunt-force trauma. TSU president Melvin Johnson met Thursday with faculty members who worked with Nathaniel Adefope, the man who was killed. A letter was being e-mailed to students about the homicide and to inform them on how to get counseling.


Worker dies after fall from roof

September 8, Kingston — A 28-year-old man died of massive internal and head injuries Tuesday after falling 2{ stories from the roof of a house on Albany Avenue where he was working, police said. Detective Sgt. Wayne Maisch said Jose Cortez, a native of Honduras, was pronounced dead at Albany Medical Center at about 6:15 p.m., about five hours after the accident. Maisch said Cortez had no paperwork or driver’s license on him, but authorities believe he had been in the United States for the past six months.


Raikes, former state senator, dies in farm accident

September 6, Lincolon, Nebraska - Former state senator Ron Raikes, considered one of the Legislature's brightest minds of recent years, died Saturday on his farm near Ashland. A neighbor found Raikes, 66, just after 10:30 p.m. He had been working with a machine that grinds hay for feed and got caught, said Saunders County Sheriff Kevin Stukenholtz. Raikes became chair of the Legislature's Education Committee in 2001, and was a key player in the consolidation of small schools in rural Nebraska and also in the formation of the Omaha-area learning community.


Looking for answers in officer's death

September 6, St. Paul, Minnesota - Officer Richard Crittenden was about 90 minutes into his shift Monday morning when the call came for him to head to a familiar trouble spot. Just the day before, police had gone to the same unit at the Aspen Village apartments in North St. Paul for a domestic disturbance. Crittenden, not wanting to take any chances, called for and received backup from an officer in neighboring Maplewood...Within minutes of the officers' arrival there was a struggle, and then Crittenden was dead from a gunshot and his partner was wounded in the arm. Dockery also was dead.


Loved ones mourn construction worker killed in Shrewsbury River dive

September 6, New Jersey, New Jersey - Contruction worker Robert Renner's family and friends had agonized all afternoon. Then, when divers finally pulled his body from the Shrewsbury River, they were left to mourn his loss in an accident they may never completely understand. They know the man who just celebrated his 42nd birthday was looking for a piece of construction equipment. But most are perplexed as to why he decided, on his day off, to dive into the river's rough currents to try to retrieve it. State Police could say only that Renner, a man his family and friends called unfailingly generous, was trying to do someone a favor.

Livery Driver Shot and Killed in Yonkers

August 30, Yonkers, New York- A livery car driver has been shot and killed in Yonkers. The car was found on Jessamine Ave. near Ramsey Ave. with Pericles Salas, 32 from Yonkers, inside suffering from a gunshot wound to the head, police said. A call came into Yonkers police around 4:40 a.m. Sunday. Salas, was rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital where he was pronounced dead. This is the fourth fatal shootings involving cab drivers in just over three months. Last week, Jose Pena-Seguira, 42, was shot once in the head inside his cab late in the Bronx, and was pronounced dead at a hospital.


Worker Killed in Accident on New York City Bridge

August 27, Queens, New York - A worker is dead after a construction accident on New York City's Throgs Neck Bridge. Police say 48-year-old William Barnes was struck by the boom of a small crane mounted on the back of a truck. The cable snapped, pinning him to the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The northbound lanes of the bridge that connects Queens to the Bronx were briefly closed, but have since reopened.


Official: Man killed in industrial accident

August 31, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - A young man was killed in what appears to be an industrial accident at a packaging plant in Montgomery Township Friday evening, a fire official said. The unidentified man died after getting trapped in a box forming machine at Mid-Atlantic Packaging on the 100 block of Commerce Drive, said David Vasconez, deputy chief of the Fire Department of Montgomery Township.


Town Mourns Officer Struck, Killed On Job

August 28, Boston, Massachusetts - Family and friends will gather in Weymouth on Saturday to pay their final respects to a police officer who was killed on the job earlier this week. Michael Davey, 34, dies Monday after he was pinned against a National Grid truck by a pickup truck being driven by Ronald Gale, 79, of Weymouth. Gale has been charged with motor vehicle homicide and his license was revoked. Davey, a married father of three, had served on the Weymouth police force for five years. He also was an Iraq veteran.


Work Related Firefighter Death - 2 firefighters killed in NY deli blaze!

August 27, Buffalo, NY – Hundreds of New York firefighters responded to the scene of a roaring fire blazing at the New York Deli on the east side of the city, which took the lives of two noble firefighters Monday morning, announced Buffalo News. The fire broke out early morning at 1815 Genesee Street. A neighbor, who lived upstairs from the Deli, noticed smoke and called 911 to report it. Two firefighters who went into the burning building were reported to have heard someone screaming for help. There has not been any proof that there was someone in the building at the time...The Buffalo Fire Department has suffered a grave loss, the worst in 26 years, stated Rescue Officials. After the blaze had died down, the bodies of the two brave firefighters were carried out of the dilapidated two-story building with American flags draped over them. The firefighters were identified as Lt. Charles McCarthy and Jonathan Croom. The Erie County Medical Center chaplain declared the two dead in the mid-morning.


PENDLETON: Accident claims life of farmer dedicated to craft

August 26, Pendleton, New York — A 54-year-old town man was found dead Tuesday night after being pinned underneath his tractor. Sheriff’s deputies say John E. Bayer was using a John Deere Model A tractor to remove another tractor that was stuck in the mud behind the 4697 Tonawanda Creek Road farm he and his wife Judie ran together for the past 14 years. Somehow, in the process, the machine flipped over backward, crushing Bayer, a lifelong resident of Pendleton.


Man found dead at Roseland Knight's Inn

August 27, A man was found dead in a crawlspace at the Knight's Inn in Roseland on Wednesday. Clay Fire department received a call around 5:40 p.m. Wednesday that an unresponsive man was trapped in a crawl space. When the fire deparment arrived, the 43 year old man was already dead. Police say it looked like he was in a construction accident. An employee at this hotel said the man was working on plumbing and no one had seen him for at least three hours. She said when she went to check on him, she found the victim unresponsive and that's when she called 911.


Crash kills log truck driver

August 25, La Pine, Oregon - A log truck driver died when his truck went off the road and overturned, smashing some of the loaded logs into the cab of the truck. Zane Leroy Culbertson, 53, of Bend, Ore., was pronounced dead at the scene. Culbertson was northbound on Highway 97 about 4 miles south of La Pine at 6:15 a.m. Wednesday when his truck went off the right shoulder and hit some trees, according to state police. Investigators do not know what caused Culbertson's truck to leave the road.


Worker dies after collapsing inside Chartiers silo

August 25, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - A Somerset County man died yesterday when he suddenly collapsed while repairing part of a grain silo in Chartiers. William C. Wright, 40, of Stoystown, was part of a crew of three men from Somerset Barn Equipment Co. who were working on the farm at 419 Brigich Road, according to Washington County Coroner Tim Warco. Two of the men were fixing an unloader 40 feet inside the silo when Mr. Wright collapsed onto a platform and was unresponsive.


Construction Worker Dies in Accident on New York City Bridge

August 25, New York, New York — A worker is dead after a construction accident on New York City's Throgs Neck Bridge. A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority says the worker was struck by the boom of a small crane mounted on the back of a truck. The Fire Department initially said the worker was killed in a fall. No other details are immediately available. The northbound lanes of the bridge that connects Queens to the Bronx were briefly closed, but have since reopened.


2nd NYC cab driver killed in a week

August 23, New York, New York — For the second time in a week, a New York City cab driver has been shot and killed in the Bronx, creating a panic among cabbies, a taxi drivers' advocacy group said Monday. Jose Pena-Seguira, 42, was shot once in the head inside his cab late Sunday, and was pronounced dead at a hospital about half an hour later, police said. A 31-year-old man seen running from Seguira's cab was arrested in a nearby park shortly after the shooting, police said. Investigators say a .25-caliber handgun was recovered.

I know this topic is tough to think about and I have written about it before (I can not seem to find the other must have been in a newsletter Give The Gift Of Life and
Will it to be Done) but it is worth the talk.

I have been a life long donor because it just seems like the right thing to do. Why not give some time to someone else when yours is gone. I have often thought of how it would have made me feel if we could have done so for my brothers but there was not the opportunity.

Imagine the feeling you have when you bring a new life into the world. What a wonder to still be able to after you are gone. A little more time so a father can give away a bride, granting time for a mother to hold her child, time for a child win the little league game or a teen to go on their first date.

Many of you already know the value of this time, we have lost much with our loved ones. So please pass this along and bestow life. Every gift makes a difference.

David Lee Spends much of his time and effort on this passionate cause. He does it for no other reason than he believes in the value of every life.

"The Waiting List has launched a new campaign -- http://www.yesiamanorgandonor.com/. By re-focusing the attention to those of you have already made the decision to say YES I AM AN ORGAN DONOR.

The Waiting List believes we can help encourage those who are hesitant by demonstrating other people's commitment to organ donation. If you're not already an organ donor, http://www.yesiamanorgandonor.com/ directs you to where you can register online. Please take a few minutes and sign our list.

Share the campaign with your family and friends; help us spread the word -- we will not succeed without your help. Together, we can make a difference. The over 100,000 Americans currently waiting for an organ transplant, their family and friends all say thank you.

When you're done, take a few minutes and visit the waiting list (http://www.thewaitinglist.org/); meet Larry, Todd, Celeste, Carol, Kathy, Xavier, and Wade -- all of whom are waiting for the gift of life."

A 49-year-old man who worked for Waste Management Inc.

Septemter 4, Fenway Park, Massachusetts - A 49-year-old man who worked for Waste Management Inc. was killed in an accident this morning involving a garbage truck at Fenway Park, police said. The incident was reported at about 8:35 a.m. at 24 Yawkey Way, at the back of Fenway Park. Police, fire, and emergency medical services personnel responded to the scene, said Officer Joe Zanoli. Zanoli said the 911 caller told police he was with Waste Management, which had two trucks on the scene, and one of the trucks had struck one of his employees.


Landscaper dies in Washington Twp. when branch falls on his head

September 4, Parsippany, New Jersey - A landscaper died this morning at a home in Washington Township after a tree branch fell on his head, police said. Police responded to a home in the Port Murray section of the township at about 10 a.m. after receiving a 911 call with CPR in progress, according to Lt. Art Adams, a department spokesman. Adams said the 41-year-old Dover man -- whose name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin -- was on the ground, assisting with cutting down a tree when a branch fell from 50-feet above. The branch was about six to eight inches in diameter. "The victim sustained massive head trauma, resulting in his death,'' Adams said.


Window washer dies in fall in St. Louis Park

September 4, St. Louis, Missouri - A window washer died and another was seriously hurt Thursday afternoon when they fell three stories while working at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park. Authorities were called about 3 p.m., said city spokesman Jamie Zwilling. When rescue personnel arrived, they found one man dead. The injured window washer was alert and talking, Zwilling said.


Falling crane crushes worker in Georgetown

September 4, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - A Bucksport man, whose brother said he liked "everything outdoors," was killed Thursday when part of a crane boom he was disassembling fell and crushed him, said Georgetown County Coroner Kenny Johnson. Thomas "Tommy" Grainger died at the scene around 12:22 p.m., Johnson said. Grainger was working on a new boat landing in Georgetown for Carolina Marine Construction Inc. when the incident happened.


Worker Dies After Clairton Coke Works Explosion, Fire

September 4, Clairton, Pennsylvania - Sky 4 flew over a part of the Clairton Coke Works where flames were seen coming through the roof of one building. Flames could be seen coming through the roof of one building at the plant along State Street in Clairton. Two workers told WTAE Channel 4's Bob Mayo that they heard the explosion and that it happened in a section called the "control room" -- an area that controls byproducts of the coke-making process...The injured worker -- Nick Revetta, 32, of Pleasant Hills -- was taken to a hospital and later died. His identity was confirmed by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's office.


Farm worker killed when tire ruptures

September 3, Buffalo, New York - A 37-year-old farm worker was killed this morning when a tire ruptured and he was hit in the head by the rim, Chautauqua County sheriff's deputies reported. The accident at 8814 Onthank Road, Portland, was reported at about 7:20 a.m., deputies said. Michael T. Cettell apparently was filling a tire with air when the tire ruptured and the rim hit him in the head, deputies said. Cettell was pronounced dead at the scene.


Tree trimming incidents kills 1, injures 2

September 2, Tucson, Arizona - Two separate tree trimming incidents Tuesday has left one worker dead and two others injured. The first happened this morning at a home near Wilmot Rd. and Broadway Blvd. Firefighters say the man was trimming old palm fronds when they fell on him. The man slid about 20 feet down the tree. The man was wearing protective gear and a harness. He was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead. The cause of death is being investigated.


Man Killed in Accident with Wood Chipper

September 2, Atwood, Indiana - An employee of a northern Indiana tree trimming company was killed Tuesday morning when he was apparently pulled through an industrial wood chipper. The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department says 37-year-old James Vician of Plymouth was feeding tree limbs into the chipper at a job site in Atwood. His co-worker walked away briefly, but when he returned he couldn't find Vician. After briefly searching the area, he discovered that Vician's body had been shredded into the hold of the truck.


Worker killed at base gate

September 2, Lexington Park, Maryland - A civilian construction worker was killed Monday night at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, authorities report, while he was working on the Gate 1 reconstruction project. Ronald Halgerty, 45, of Waterloo, Ind., was killed at 9:50 p.m. Monday, according to Charles Rossi, the project manager for Bob White Construction Co., the general contractor on the gate project.


Road worker killed in rural Ingham County

September 2, White Oak Township, Michigan - A 32-year veteran of the Ingham County Road Commission was killed Tuesday while doing shoulder repair work on a rural road, authorities said. Ingham County sheriff's Sgt. Steve Sopocy said Road Commission employees had just finished spreading asphalt on a section of the road, and 54-year-old Thomas James Doyle was run over by the truck as it was backed up to begin leveling the asphalt.


Sheriff's employee killed in crash

September 2, Belle Glade, Florida - Authorities say a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office employee died after veering off the road and flipping into a canal. The sheriff's office reports that the 58-year-old community service aide, who has not been identified, was driving from his Belle Glade home Tuesday morning when his marked cruiser went off the road. The car flipped and he became trapped upside down underwater. Several witnesses tried to help the man, but the water was too deep and the roof had been crushed. He wasn't freed until rescuers were able to pull to vehicle out of the water. The man was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.


2 cops shot in Georgetown, 1 killed

September 1, Georgetown, Delaware - Georgetown officer Chad Spicer was killed and another officer wounded Tuesday evening when they were shot as they chased three men wanted in a shooting near the McDonald’s restaurant on U.S. 113. The officers followed a car suspected in the restaurant shooting to a spot near Kimmey Street and Rosa Street in the Kimmeytown neighborhood on the town’s northeastern side. Three men bolted out of the car and started to run and the officers gave chase. Shots were fired and both officers were hit, according to Cpl. Bruce Harris, a spokesman for Delaware State Police. Spicer, 29, was killed, and Cpl. Shawn Brittingham was struck by a bullet fragment, according to Police Chief William Topping. Both were taken to Beebe Medical Center in Lewes. Brittingham remains in good condition.


Climbing Accident Kills Yosemite Worker

September 1, Yosemite, California - A Yosemite National Park wildlife biologist who previously taught at University of California, Davis, died in a climbing accident in the east end of the park, officials said Tuesday. Jeff Maurer, who was knowledgeable about birds of prey, died on Sunday after falling from the Third Pillar, a technical rock climbing route on 13,061-foot Mount Dana, which sits southeast of Tioga Pass. Maurer, 47, has worked in the park for the past three years. Prior to that, he worked at the Yosemite Institute and did research for many conservation organizations.


Powder Plant Employee Dies After July Explosion

August 31, Columbus, Ohio — A female powder plant employee died early Monday from injuries she suffered in an industrial explosion more than a month ago. Marletta Betts, 43, died at 2:11 a.m. Monday from complications of burns, according to the Franklin County coroner. Betts had been at OSU Medical Center since the Tuesday, July 28, incident at the Vinton County Austin Powder Company. Ten employees were injured, and three were seriously or critically injured in the explosion, including Betts, Becky Castor and Debbie Hagerty.


Worker dies after fall in Taunton warehouse

August 31, Taunton, Massachusetts - A 51-year-old Stoughton man was killed Monday morning in a work-related accident after he fell off a forklift and struck his head, police said. The victim, Alan Forsyth, of 45 Meadowbrook Lane, was pronounced dead at approximately 11:30 a.m. at Morton Hospital and Medical Center, roughly one hour after the mishap.


Caldwell farmer struck by train dies

August 31, Monroe, Louisiana - A Caldwell Parish farmer who was struck by a train on Aug. 15 died from his injuries on Sunday at the LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, his daughter said. Leobardo Guerrero, 59, of Bosco, was pulling a trailer with his John Deere tractor on Sugar Farm Road near Bosco about 6:15 p.m. when he was hit by the train at the crossing, which is marked by what is known as white cross bucks. State police issued Guerrero a citation at the hospital for failure to yield.


Covington construction worker dies from fall in Ohio

August 31, Cincinnati, Ohio - A construction worker from Covington who fell off a scaffold in Ohio last week died from his injuries on Sunday, according to his family and authorities. Edmond Gourdon, 45, fell Wednesday while painting the underside of an overpass along Interstate 75 in Liberty Township, Ohio, north of Cincinnati, Ohio State Highway Patrol officials said. He suffered a serious head injury and was hospitalized at University Hospital in Cincinnati, authorities said.


Water Dept. Worker Hit, Killed By Minivan

September 1, Boston, Massachusetts - An Attleborough Water Department worker was hit and killed by a minivan as he was working to close a gate on a broken water main Monday morning, police said. Jeffrey Burgess, 35, was taken to Sturdy Memorial Hospital where he died of his injuries, the Attleborough Sun Chronicle reported. He was working in the Dodgeville section of town on the side of South Main Street, also known as Route 152, when the collision occurred about 8 a.m.


Fourth NYC-area cabbie shot, killed in 4 months

August 31, Yonkers, New York — A cab driver has been shot and killed in Yonkers, the fourth fatal cabbie shooting in the New York City area in four months. Yonkers police Capt. William Cave says his department is consulting with the New York Police Department to determine whether the shootings could be linked. Pericles Salas was found with a gunshot wound to the head early Sunday. The 32-year-old was a driver for Mexicana Taxi Service in Yonkers. He died at a local hospital.


Two firefighters killed battling 'out of control' California blaze

September 1, Los Angeles, California - RAGING wildfires in Calfifornia have claimed the lives of two firefighters - as state governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said the blazes were "still totally out of control". More than 6000 firefighters have been battling the infernos - which are being fuelled by record high temperatures - since last week. Residents of 10,000 homes near Los Angeles have been told to evacuate the area. The men who died have been named as fire captain Tedmund Hall, 47, and firefighter Arnaldo Quinones, 35. They were killed when their vehicle rolled off a mountainside as they battled a blaze in the Angeles National Forest.


Philadelphia man dies in industrial accident

September 1, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - A 23-year-old Philadelphia man died in an industrial accident at a packaging plant in Montgomery Township on Friday, police said. Still, the circumstances surrounding Peter Uon's death remained mysterious Saturday as authorities were not immediately releasing details on what occurred at Mid-Atlantic Packaging's facility on the 100 block of Commerce Drive. A fire official said that the man died after getting trapped in a box forming machine. The Fire Department of Montgomery Township was dispatched around 4:50 p.m. to help retrieve the man's body from the unit. They left the scene after 7 p.m.