Saturday, April 03, 2010

Weekly Toll: Death in the American Workplace

Walter Wetzel Chased After Suspect On Saw Mill Run Boulevard

April 3, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - A convenience store employee hit by a getaway car during an alleged robbery in Duquesne Heights has died after months in and out of the hospital. Frank Pekular is accused of running over 61-year-old Walter Wetzel after an attempted robbery at the BP gas station at 910 Saw Mill Run Blvd. on Nov. 28, police said.


Five dead in Anacortes refinery explosion and fire

April 2, Anacortes, Washington — The two major March Point oil refineries whose puffing towers sit across a narrow bay from downtown Anacortes are an intimate part of this community — the source of year-round paychecks, even in a troubled economy. But workers and their loved ones know that with those jobs comes risk...Tesoro workers who died at the scene were Daniel J. Aldridge, 50, of Anacortes; Matthew C. Bowen, 31, of Arlington; and Darrin J. Hoines, 43, of Ferndale. Skagit County deputy coroner Bob Clark said each man was married.


Central Iowa Worker Dies When Wall Collapses

April 2, Blairsburg, Iowa - Hamilton County sheriff's officials say a 57-year-old Clarion man has died after a cement block wall at a school construction site in Blairsburg fell on top of him. Hamilton County Sheriff Dennis Hagenson says construction worker David Thompson was killed at about noon Friday while he worked on an addition to the Northeast Hamilton Elementary School. The wall was 18 feet tall and at least 12 feet wide.


Convenience store employee dead in College Station

April 2, College Station, Texas - Authorities are searching for two men after the death a convenience store employee during a robbery Friday morning. Police responded to a convenience store at the 1800 block of Harvey Mitchell Parkway just after 4 a.m. where they found an employee, Johannes Kinny, 39, with injuries after an altercation. The victim was taken to the College Station Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 4:44 a.m.


Men killed in Lawrence industrial accident are identified

April 2, Kansas City, Missouri - Authorities on Friday revealed the names of two men killed Thursday in an industrial accident in Lawrence. Those who died are Roy Hillebert, 56, of Eudora and Brandon Price, 26, of Lawrence. A third man was treated and released from a hospital. The incident happened about 2:30 p.m. at the MagnaGro International plant on the east side of Lawrence in a small industrial park. An official said Thursday that one worker fell into a tank of a substance he would not identify and they were still trying to determine how the second person died and the third was injured.


Rescuer killed on Route 163

April 1, San Diego, California — Hours before he was fatally struck by a car while setting up flares around a highway traffic accident, emergency medical technician Esteban Bahena made this post to his Facebook account: “Just transported a patient coming off a jet plane. Love my job.” Bahena, 24, died about 8:30 a.m. Thursday after getting hit on state Route 163 south of Washington Street.


2 killed, 1 wounded in auto repair shop shooting

March 31, Detroit, Two people were fatally shot and one wounded at an auto repair shop on Detroit’s east side Tuesday afternoon following a dispute between the owners and a customer, Detroit police said...The gunman left the shop and returned a short time later while the two owners and employee were inside working. He fired several rounds at them, killing the owners. The employee was taken to a hospital for treatment. Police have not released the names and ages of the victims.


Worker Dies After Accident At Work

March 31, Des Moines, Iowa - A Des Moines worker died after suffering injuries on the job on Monday. The incident happened at the Anderson Erickson Dairy plant at 2420 East University Avenue. An Anderson Erickson spokesperson said the employee was injured in some type of occupational accident. The Polk County Medical Examiner's office said Christopher Gehringer, 45, died from traumatic asphyxiation. Gehringer's family took him off life support on Tuesday.


Monroe man killed in industrial accident

March 31, Monroe, Louisiana - A Monroe man was killed shortly after noon on Tuesday in an industrial accident in Monroe. Monroe Fire Department Chief Investigator David Hill confirmed that a 56-year-old man died when a "stand-up type" forklift, which was being unloaded, fell on him. The victim was pinned underneath and had to be extricated by the fire department, The accident happened at Harrison and Collier Streets at the old Ramsey's Trailways Bus Station. The victim, Isaac Luffey, owner and operator of ArkLa Recycling in West Monroe, was transported to St. Francis Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.


Iowa man dies in tractor accident

March 30, Bellevue, Iowa - A 62-year-old man from eastern Iowa has died after authorities say a tractor and manure spreader that he was operating apparently rolled down a hill and overturned, striking him. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday that Wayne Keiffer of rural Bellevue died Monday. Authorities say a co-worker found Keiffer's body. The co-worker was checking on Keiffer when he didn't come to work. Jackson County sheriff's officials say the investigation into the farm accident continues.


Worker killed in Port Angeles conveyor accident

Port Angeles, Washington - The state Department of Labor and Industries is investigating the death of a worker at the Evergreen Fibre wood chip company in Port Angeles. Police says 38-year-old Timothy Eric Williams was working on a conveyor belt when it turned on unexpectedly. Police Chief Terry Gallagher told The Peninsula Daily News it appears to be an accident.


Crash kills two tree-trimming workers

March 29, Lexington, Kentucky - Four people have died in Pike County, alone, in the last three days. The latest accident happened Monday morning at the intersection of U.S. 460 and highway 1499 in the Mouthcard area when two people were hit and killed by a truck. The two workers were placing work signs along the road to warn motorists of tree trimming when the collision occurred. The two killed in the accident were Kevin D. Jones 32 years old of 50 Turnaround Lane, Dorton, KY. and Paul Williamson 20 years old of 1023 Morgan Fork, Harold, KY.


One Dead, One Injured at NY Salt Mine

March 29, New York, New York - An accident at The Cargill Salt Mine in Lansing has killed one man and injured another, WBNG.com reports. The Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office said the accident occurred about 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Salt is stored in a large bin as it awaits loading into trucks. One such bin collapsed onto a privately owned dump truck, killing the driver. A Cargill employee, who was operating the bin from position on it, fell and sustained injuries when the bin collapsed.


Waycross cab driver slain during botched robbery

March 29, Jacksonville, Florida - Waycross police are investigating the shooting death of a 55-year-old cab driver during a botched robbery early Sunday. Eldridge Thomas Jr. died after being shot in the upper body in the Bailey Heights neighborhood of the city, authorities said. Police found him in the 1300 block of Walter Street shortly after 5 a.m. when they responded to a report of a shooting near Charlton and Walter streets, Waycross Police Chief Tony Tanner said. Thomas died at the scene. An autopsy will be performed this morning at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab in Savannah, said Ware County Deputy Coroner Terry Anderson.

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