Weekly Toll

Nurse Attacked and Killed at Jail

October 28, MARTINEZ, CA - 55 year old Cynthia Palomata of El Sobrante, a longtime employee with Contra Costa Health Services, died after being attacked by an inmate of the Contra Costa County Jail Thursday. The inmate faked a seizure and Palomata rushed to his aid. The inmate then picked up a lamp and hit Palomata in the head, knocking her unconscious, authorities said. She later died at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek as a result of the attack.


Communications Technician Dies From Fall

October 28, MIDLAND, TX - 49 year old Randy Layne Gamble, a Suddenlink Communications worker died Thursday after falling from a cherry picker, according to the Midland Police Department. Initial reports are that he fell several feet from the bucket on the vehicle to the ground, but police are not sure the sequence of events that led to Gamble’s fall, a spokesperson said.


Veteran San Diego Police Officer Killed in Shoot Out

October 28, SAN DIEGO, CA - Veteran Officer Christopher Wilson who was shot while doing a probation check at a Skyline-area apartment died Thursday. Working with the U.S. Marshall's doing a probation compliance check, the officers were shot at from an individual behind a closed interior door after entering the apartment. Wilson was killed and his police dog injured. Wilson died at Scripps Mercy Hospital at about 3 a.m., and the German shepherd, Monty, underwent surgery for a wound to his snout and was expected to recover.


Gravel Truck Operator Electrocuted

October 27, BOGALUSA, LA - 49 year old Joey Robinson was electrocuted and his truck was set ablaze Wednesday morning when his raised trailer touched a power line, authorities said Thursday. Robinson was dumping gravel from the trailer of his 18-wheeler near Ochsner Boulevard in the Covington area as part of the construction of a new bypass and as he drove forward the raised trailer came in contact with the overhead power line, a sheriff spokesman said. As Robinson opened the door of the truck to exit he grabbed a metal handrail on the side of the cab, he was electrocuted and the power of the current threw him from the vehicle.


School Bus Driver Dies Two Days After Crash

October 27, STONY BROOK, NY - 56 year old Piters Calixte of Westbury, an L.I. School bus driver, has died of his injuries two days after an early morning crash involving a tanker truck on a Long Island highway. He was injured Monday morning when his school bus crashed into a tanker on Sunrise Highway in Amityville. There were no children aboard the bus when it crashed.


Woman at Work Stabbed to Death in Front of Sons

October 27, SAN FERNANDO, CA - 31 year old Sabrina Lalla-Mitchell was stabbed to death by a man she knew while at her workplace in San Fernando yesterday afternoon. It is reported that Mrs. Lalla-Mitchell picked up her children from school and took them to her workplace which was a regular occurrence. Eyewitnesses say they saw a man speaking with Mrs. Lalla-Mitchell as she sat behind her desk who then pulled out a knife and began stabbing her. She died at the scene.


Notre Dame School Videographer Dies From Fall

October 27, SOUTH BEND, IN - 20 year old Declan Sullivan, a student worker in the video department of Norte Dame University, died after the tower from which he was filming football practice fell over. Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating his death. Sullivan, a junior, died after he was transported from the university's LaBar practice complex.


Heart Attack Kills Truck Driver

October 27, LOS ANGELES, CA - 58 year old William Bradfield of Huntington Beach, is believed to have suffered a heart attack while behind the wheel of his big rig Wednesday afternoon. Bradfield was heading northbound on the 405 freeway when the truck collided with several other vehicles before it came to a stop at Santa Monica Boulevard. Bradfield was treated by paramedics at the scene, then taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.


Kentucky Coal Miner Dies in Accident

October 27, RIVER VIEW, KY - 39 year old James Jeffrey Falk was killed Wednesday morning after apparently being struck by a motorized shuttle car at the River View Mine near Uniontown in Union County, the Kentucky Office of Mine Safety and Licensing (OMSL) reported. Falk was a continuous miner helper at River View and he had 4 1/2 years of mining experience, according to an OMSL spokesman. An on scene investigation is being held.


Worker Killed at Factory in Colorado

October 27, PUEBLO, CO - 21 year old John Keel of Mississippi was crushed when he became pinned between a large forklift and rail car while working at the Vestas wind turbine tower factory in Colorado. Keel worked for Transportation Technology Services Inc. based in Southlake, TX.


Road Maintenance Worker Hit and Killed

October 27, FAYETTEVILLE, NC - John Glen McLean of Erwin, one of several family members working for a company with a contract to cut grass for the state Department of Transportation, was killed by a semi truck who careened into his mower. The truck scraped two parked vehicles warning about a lane closed to protect workers ahead. The Highway Patrol says the truck then rear-ended the mowing tractor just north of Fayetteville, killing the worker just before noon Wednesday.


Worker Clearing Trees Electrocuted

October 27, ALTO, MI - A worker was clearing fallen trees near several downed power lines Wednesday evening when he touched a charged line and died, according to the Kent County Sheriff's Department. He was employed by a company contracted to remove trees and debris, according to a news release. UPDATE: Authorities have identified the worker as 36 year old Jason Thomas Green.


OK Trooper Dies From Injuries Sustained in Crash

October 26, TULSA, OK - 56 year old Capt. George Green of Sand Springs, an Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper, has died from injuries he sustained in a traffic accident. Green suffered massive internal injuries and several broken bones on Monday when his patrol vehicle collided with a dump truck on State Highway 97 at the Turner Turnpike off-ramp in Sapulpa.


Florida Horsewoman Found Dead on Farm

October 26, OCALA, FL - 45 year old Gail Gee, died Tuesday at her Derby Daze Farm. She was found in front of a barn in her car by one of the farm's employees early Tuesday. The vehicle was still running and had driven up a small berm on the property. The car's convertible top was down, and when the employee went to investigate, he noticed Gee was not breathing and called 911. Gee was a race horse breeder.


One Man Killed After Being Hit by Airport Tram

October 26, HOUSTON, TX - an unidentified maintenance worker at Bush Intercontinental Airport was killed and another injured Tuesday when he was hit by a tram on an elevated portion of the track near the airport Marriott and Terminal B. Airport officials said both men were independent contractors with Johnson Controls doing work for Continental. 　


Eye Surgeon, Technician and Pilot Die in Plane Crash

October 25, CHEHALIS, WA - 69 year old Dr. Paul Shenk of Woodland, an eye and Lasik surgeon, 43 year old Rod Rinta, a laser technician from Chehalis and 70 year old pilot Ken Sabin died Monday when their plane crashed and disintegrated on impact in rugged terrain. The plane was registered to Pacific Cataract and Laser Institute in Chehalis. Doctors and surgery teams frequently fly out of Chehalis to one of the company’s other branches, which include Lewiston and Vancouver. About 10 minutes into the flight, the pilot of the twin-engine Cessna radioed that he was turning back because he lost power in one engine.


Ohio Farmer Killed When Tractor Overturns

October 25, THORNVILLE, OH - 61 year old Thomas J. Williams was killed Monday when he was pinned by his tractor, the Fairfield County sheriff's office said. He was pinned by a tractor that he was using to clear brush and logs when the tractor rolled on its side about 6:30 p.m.


OR State Biologist Killed in Crash

October 25, NEWPORT, OR - 52 year old Tamara "Tami" Wagner of Lincoln City died at the scene of a vehicle accident, according to Oregon State Police Lt. Mike Turner. She was an Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife biologist. A chain reaction involving several vehicles caused a collision with Wagner's westbound Chevy pickup.


Texas Deputy Dies in Cruiser Crash

October 25, LIBERTY, TX - 43 year old Odell McDuffie Jr of LaPorte, an Officer for the Liberty County Police Dept died Monday after his patrol car smashed into a grove of trees and exploded into flames before he could escape, authorities said. McDuffie had driven a juvenile to the Hardin County Juvenile Detention Center and was heading back on FM 770 when he apparently over corrected after swerving off the roadway near Saratoga in an undeveloped portion of the Big Thicket, investigators said. Texas Department of Public Safety troopers were still reconstructing the accident Tuesday to determine exactly what happened.


Shrimper Dies When Boat Capsizes

October 25, MAYPORT, FL - 57 year old Bruce Christ died when rough waters off the coast of Amelia Island caused the shrimp boat he was on to sink. Mr. Christ and the captain were able to escape through a window as the vessel sank. The Coast Guard said some Good Samaritans came to help and pull the boaters from the ocean, but only the captain survived.


Road Construction Worker Struck and Killed

October 25, SANTA ROSA, FL - 42 year old Darrell D. Perkins of Pensacola had just set up a reflective barrel while setting up a lane closure on U.S. Highway 98 near the intersection of Woodlawn Beach Road Monday night. He was walking away when he was struck by a hit and run driver. He was propelled forward by the impact, the report said. The driver who killed Perkins was arrested Tuesday morning and charged with DUI manslaughter, driving while license was suspended in an accident involving death and leaving the scene of a fatal crash, according to a Florida Highway Patrol media release.


Trucker Dies of Medical Incident

October 25, NASHVILLE, TN - 69 year old Tommy Hawkins of Ten Mile died of a probably medical episode shortly after crashing his semi on Interstate 40 earlier today. Witnesses reported that Hawkins’ truck inexplicably crossed traffic lanes on I-40, struck the guardrail and continued to careen into the shoulder before stopping. He died at Summit Medical Center shortly after crashing his rig.


Worker Dies in Fall When Roof Collapses

October 25, WINSLOW, GA - 32 year old Carlos E. Martinez of Lilburn was killed Monday after falling 40 feet due to a roof collapse at a warehouse here. He was removing the roof at a CertainTeed Corp. facility in the 200 block of New Brooklyn Road when the accident occurred around 10:30 a.m., according to Winslow police. Martinez died later in the day at Virtua Berlin. Police identified Martinez as an employee of Labor Only Recovery.


Police Officer Dies in Single Car Crash

October 25, TEANECK, NJ - 37 year old John Abraham was killed when his car slammed into a telephone pole - just hours after he saved the life of a choking man. was working overtime in Teaneck when he was involved in a one-car accident right outside police headquarters. Abraham is being considered a hero for his actions of giving life saving measures to an elderly restaurant patron who was choking, just hours before his fatal crash.


Man Crushed When Tractor Flips

October 24, MENDOTA, CA - 21 year old Armando D. Guzman of Mendota, a worker for Paramount Farms near Kettleman City, was killed when a tractor he was driving flipped and crushed him Sunday afternoon in Kings County.


Firefighter Found Dead Inside His Station

October 24, MARSHALL, MO - 36 year old Randall Scott Davenport was found dead inside his fire station on Sunday. Davenport had worked two structure fires one day earlier in Marshall and Saline County before he died at the firehouse. Information about his cause of death was not immediately available, according to the newspaper.


LA Police Officer Gunned Down

October 24, SHREVEPORT, LA - 44 year old Tim Prunty, a Sergeant for the Shreveport Police Dept was fatally shot early Sunday morning. Prunty was checking on a business before dawn Sunday when a man drove up to the officer and opened fire. A suspect has been charged with one count of first-degree murder.


Psychiatric Hospital Employee Murdered by Patient

October 23, NAPA, CA - 54 year old Donna Gross of Concord, a psychiatric technician for Napa State Hospital, was found slain a little after 6 p.m. Saturday in an enclosed courtyard after she failed to return from a dinner break and failed to return to work, authorities said. A patient with an extensive criminal history, was arrested in connection with her slaying, Napa County Sheriff's Department said in a written statement released Sunday. Gross was attacked outside, so her personal alarm would not have functioned, said Brad Leggs, the Napa State Hospital chapter president of the psychiatric technicians group.


Worker Drowns at LNG Plant in MD

October 23, LUSBY, MD - 45 year old Mark Eugene Copeland of Palmetto, FL died Saturday at approximately 11:34 a.m. at the Dominion LNG Plant Gas Dock at 2100 Cove Point Road in Lusby. Copeland slipped underwater while working off a flotation device attached to a barge and continued to the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay, approximately 40 feet. He was rescued by co-workers but attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. He was wearing diving equipment at the time. Copeland was working for Greg's Marine Construction Inc. of Lusby as a laborer and his duties on Saturday were to chip away old cement jackets placed over pilings at the gas dock, preparing these pilings for new jackets, approximately 1 mile off the coast of Calvert County.


WI Tractor Trailer Driver Dies in IN Crash

October 23, SOUTH BEND, IN - 57 year old Oleh Pyvovarov of Milwaukee, WI was killed early Saturday in a fiery two-semi crash on the Indiana Toll Road near the South Bend/Notre Dame exit. Another semi had slowed down for traffic when Pyvovarov's truck hit the rear of the first truck and burst into flames.


Man Found Dead at Landfill Work Site

October 23, CONWAY, AR - 55 year old Kenneth Trent Goolsby of Ripley, MS, a contract worker for the City of Conway, was found dead at the city’s landfill on Friday afternoon after sustaining injuries in what investigators are describing as an apparent on-the-job accident. After being gone longer than the normal time to fill a water tank, a coworker was sent to the water filling site to check on Goolsby, who was then discovered lying face-down beneath the front of the water truck in the water. The report indicates he apparently had no pulse, and the truck was still running, though it had been backed “nearly completely into the pond.”


Store Owner Shot Trying to Stop Robbery

October 23, QUEENS, NY - 54 year old Juan Torres was shot and killed by a robbery suspect who was holding his brother at gunpoint, robbing the register. Detectives believe Torres was shot as he tried to sneak up on the bandit with a hammer while his brother Felix was being held at gunpoint. Juan Torres "heroically saved his brother's life, but sadly it cost him his own," a cop source said.

Worker Dies When Trench Collapses Around Him

October 23, AUGUSTA, GA - 37 year old Jimmy Roubles died when a sandy trench collapsed Saturday morning, trapping Roubles and another man working on pipes six feet below the surface under a pile of earth. Roubles and his unidentified co-worker were working outside the main office of Allen Homes, an apartment complex off of Laney-Walker Boulevard operated by the Augusta Housing Authority.


Worker Killed in Heavy Machinery Accident

October 22, HORNELL, NY - 46 year old James J. Mihok of Binghamton died during a tragic workplace accident involving a roller. Mihok, an employee of TKH Northeast Inc., based in Vestal, was operating a vibrating roller during the installation of conduit along the roadway, police said in a release. The roller went over the edge and down a 14 foot embankment. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.


Man Electrocuted at Construction Site

October 22, HARPER'S FERRY, WV - 31 year old Patrick Bachtell of Smithsburg died after he was electrocuted at a construction site in Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Bachtell was a contract worker with Somerset Construction. They were building a wheelchair ramp near the Harpers Ferry Campus Center on Hargotz Drive. According to the boom truck operator Bachtell was pouring concrete when all of a sudden the operator saw a flash and Bachtell was on the ground. He died after being transported to a nearby hospital.


Soy Bean Farmer Dies in Grain Bin Accident

October 22, MONTROSE, MN - 77 year old Theodore Richard Salonek died Friday in a grain bin of soybeans in Wright County. Authorities say the 77-year-old man climbed into a grain bin to try and unclog some soybeans when the beans caved in around him. Rescuers tried to empty the bin to free the man. Sadly, the farmer died at the scene.


Two Killed at Factory Where They Worked

October 22, CLEVELAND, OH - 49 year old Graciela Morales and 49 year old Eduardo Pupo were both shot and killed at the factory they worked at. Morales was found dead in her vehicle in the parking lot, shot by an ex-boyfriend. The gunman then used her employee card to gain entrance to the facility where he sought out and also shot Pupo. Morales had previously filed a complaint against the gunman for harassment.


Worker DiesUnder Flipped Tractor

October 22, ABBEVILLE, LA - Jason Leger died when the tractor he was using to remove iron on a farmers land flipped, pinning him underneath. Leger was out of work and asked land owner Bobby Gary if he could remove a pile of iron from the property. As he was trying to pull a heavy piece of iron, the tractor flipped and crushed him.


Worker Killed When Dump Truck Flips Over at Landfill

October 21, MURFREESBORO, TN - A worker at the Mid Point Landfill was killed when a dump truck flipped over and landed on top of him. The sheriff's department said the worker was crushed to death beneath a large dump truck that apparently slid down into a ravine.


Worker Dies in Electrical Accident at Steel Plant

October 21, JAKIN, GA - 34 year old Jamie Vickers of Jakin died today from injuries he sustained yesterday at Qualico Steel in Webb. Mr. Vickers was working on something that the power was disconnected to, but the power was later connected to check some other equipment and it was just never disconnected again before Vickers started working on it.


Truck Driver Succumbs to Natural Causes

October 21, ABERDEEN, SD - 73 year old George Klett, a truck driver from Cantril, IA was found dead inside his rig at a South Dakota truck stop. It appears he died of natural causes and authorities do not suspect foul play.


OK County Worker Killed in Collision With Train

October 21, CANEY, OK - 66 year old George Wendell Maxey, an Atoka County employee, was killed when the county vehicle he was driving collided with a train. Maxey and a co-worker, Floyd Stafford, were both traveling West on Folsom Road in Caney, when Maxey’s truck was hit by an oncoming Union Pacific train. "He was right behind me, I made it across and I guess he just didn't see it I don't know,” said Stafford. Friends and co-workers say the intersection is notorious for being dangerous.


Construction Worker Dies in Accident

October 21, SPANISH FORK, UT - a 31 year old construction worker died after the bucket from an excavator fell and struck him in the chest. The man and two coworkers were leveling a manhole near 700 N. Lynbrook (1100 East) when the excavator broke a piece of concrete, became unstable, and dropped the bucket into the hole and onto the man. He died on the way to the hospital. The Utah Medical Examiner’s Office is investigating the man’s death and OSHA is looking into the accident, Adams said. Police are not conducting a criminal investigation. UPDATE: Authorities have identified the victim as 31 year old Ricardo Carmona of the Kearns area.


Well Liked Manager of Pizza Store Found Dead

October 21, RADFORD, VA - 27 year old Jason Levi Stigger was found dead of a gunshot wound inside the Papa John's store he managed. His body was discovered by one of the store's delivery drivers who had returned to the store. An employee of the restaurant has been arrested and charged with Stigger's murder. It appears the suspect tried to rob the store.


Two State Highway Workers Struck and Killed

October 21, WALDORF, MD - 28 year old Marlon E.C. Lorenzo and 24 year old Erick T.M. Alvarado, both of Silver Spring, were killed when an SUV went off the highway and ran into them. Both men, State Highway Administration contract workers, had mowed the median of State Route 228 in the Waldorf area on Thursday and were picking up trash when a 2004 Volkswagen Touareg went off the road and hit two of them. He says the men were pronounced dead on the scene. The third worker was not struck and was not injured. The workers were wearing their fluorescent green highway safety vests. It appears the driver of the SUV fell asleep behind the wheel.


Jewelry Store Owner Killed During Robbery

October 21, PHILADELPHIA, PA - 67 year old William Glatz, 2nd generation owner of William Glatz Jewelry, was shot in the chest and died at a hospital, police said. The alleged robber died inside Glatz Jewelers in northeast Philadelphia of gunshot wounds to the head and chest, police spokeswoman Jillian Russell said. "There was an exchange of gunfire between the perpetrators and the store owner," police Capt. Michael McCarrick said.


Experienced Logger Killed in Accident

October 21, FORKS, WA - 47 year old William Todd Horton, an experienced tree faller and independent logging contractor, was killed when a fallen tree pivoted around and hit him after a tree he was cutting tumbled onto it. Horton was working in the woods off the P-1600 Forest Road near the Clallam Bay prison at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, said Clallam County Sheriff's Chief Criminal Deputy Ron Cameron. A machine operator who didn't see the accident did see the tree swing and knew something was wrong. That operator phoned emergency responders but Horton died before they arrived.


Crane Topples, Killing Operator

October 20, MOUNTAIN PINE, AR - Roy Case was killed in a crane accident Wednesday afternoon at a water treatment plant. It happened in Mountain Pine, located in Garland County. He was owner/operator of the crane. As a construction crew was working on an access road to the Ouachita Water Treatment Facility, a crane lifting a too-heavy object, tipped forward killing the operator inside the cab. The Hot Springs Fire Department Chief says the construction worker died almost instantly.


Worker Crushed at IN Steel Plant

October 20, EAST CHICAGO, IN - 33 year old Jason Ham of Wheeler, died after a machine part fell on him at an ArcelorMittal steel mill in East Chicago. The company issued a statement Thursday saying a preliminary investigation showed the mechanic was removing a hydraulic cylinder when something disturbed an arm supporting a pivot table, causing the table to pivot downward. Ham was pronounced dead from blunt force trauma at the scene of the accident late Wednesday.


Man Dies After Fall From Roof

October 20, OAKDALE, PA - 60 year old Raymond Stidd died when he fell from the roof of a landscape supply company Wednesday afternoon. No other details are available.


Worker Killed When Support Beam Collapsed Under Him

October 20, KANNAPOLIS, NC - 50 year old Hun Woo Jung of Kannapolis, a construction worker for Eun Construction, died when a support beam gave way causing a sun room he was working on to collapse. Capt. Shannon Harris of the Mount Holly Police Department said the sun room was being built on the back of a house under construction in the River Park subdivision at 108 Sculpin Lane.


Man Dies in Accident at PA Loading Dock

October 20, OCHLOCKNEE, PA - 63 year old Kenneth Herman of Knox, PA died when the trailer of a truck driven by a plant employee pinned Herman against the concrete loading dock, crushing him. Authorities say an Oil-Dri Company driver was backing up his trailer at a loading dock. The driver did not see Herman as he backed up the trailer. Authorities say Herman worked for an independent trucking company.


Baltimore Officer Dies After Collision With Fire Truck

October 20, BALTIMORE, MD - 32 year old Tommy Portz, an officer with the Baltimore Police Dept has died after crashing his cruiser into a city fire engine that was stopped on a highway. Portz went into cardiac arrest after the crash around 10 a.m. on U.S. 40 in west Baltimore. He died at a trauma center. Police are investigating the crash. It's not clear whether Portz was responding to a call or had his lights and sirens activated.


Store Owner Killed During Robbery

October 20, TAMPA, FL - 73 year old Salvatore Agostino, owner of Antiques Etc, was killed during an apparent robbery Wednesday afternoon in Tampa. Agostino, who used a motorized wheelchair, was found inside the store with upper body trauma, police said. Agostino's brother contacted police after he did not come home after work and could not be contacted at the store. His death is being investigated.


Market Clerk Shot During Robbery

October 19, WATSONVILLE, CA - 32 year old Yahya Saleh Ali Ahmed was killed during a robbery at the Fiesta Latino Market where Ahmed was a clerk. Watsonville police Lt. Darren Thompson said the suspect entered the store and talked to the clerk. The man left briefly and came back in. He flashed a dark revolver, demanded money and shot the clerk in the chest at point-blank range.


Forklift Accident Kills Worker

October 19, AKRON, OH - 52 year old David Sekusky was working at Shaker's Auto Salvage and Towing on S. Van Buren Avenue in Barberton when he was apparently hit by a fork lift. Sekusky was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:11 am. An autopsy is planned for tomorrow. His death is under investigation.


Worker Dies After Falling From Bridge

October 19, CATLETTSBURG, KY - a 49 year old man has died from injuries sustained in a fall. Boyd County coroner Chris Stewart tells WSAZ.com that the 49-year old man suffered multiple injuries when he fell approximately 30 feet from a bridge on I-64 near the Marathon Refinery. His name is being withheld until relatives can be notified. It is not clear who he was working for.


Newspaper Delivery Man Hit by Car, Dies

October 18, ANNVILLE, PA - 53 year old Reed Pruitt O'Neal is dead after being struck by a car in central Pennsylvania. O'Neal was delivering papers for The Patriot-News of Harrisburg when he stepped into the westbound lanes of East Main Street and was struck.


Tractor Trailer Driver Dies in Crash

October 18, BALTIMORE, MD - 49 year old Jeffrey Todd Meade of Verona, VA died when the semi he was driving overturned this morning on the inner loop of the Capital Beltway. Fire Capt. Oscar Garcia reported that the trailer appeared to have driven off the road and the cab of the truck was against a tree when Montgomery Fire and Rescue arrived at the scene.


Phoenix Police Office Found Shot

October 18, PHOENIX, AZ - 34 year old Sgt. Sean Drenth, of the Phoenix Police Dept was found shot to death Monday night. Police say their headquarters lost contact with Drenth less than an hour before the Arizona Capitol Police discovered his body. Drenth was shot in an open area often used by officers to work on paperwork in their cars while keeping an eye on happenings in their surroundings, police said.


Worker Found Dead in Work Truck

October 18, OREGON CITY, OR - 47 year old David Campbell, who was found unconscious in his work truck has died of probably natural causes. He was found slumped behind the steering wheel of his pickup truck at the entrance of the Tillamook Cheese Factory, troopers said. Troopers said Campbell was doing installation work in a factory building earlier in the day when he complained to co-workers of chest pain. He was last seen going to his pickup to make a phone call at about 2 p.m. A little more than one hour later, a fellow worker went to look for Campbell and found him unconscious in his pickup.


Carnival Worker Found Dead Inside Pickup Truck

October 18, FULLERTON, CA - 58 year old Dan Lawrence White of Long Beach was found dead today inside a truck in the parking lot of St. Mary's Catholic Church. The man was a carnival worker who was hired to work at the church festival. He was found by other carnival workers who became worried after he didn't show up for work, police said. An autopsy performed Tuesday failed to determine a cause of death, said Orange County Supervising Deputy Coroner Daniel Aikin, adding that further investigation will be needed.


Imperial Valley Field Worker Dies in Backhoe Accident

October 18, SEELEY, CA - 73 year old Margarito Hernandez Alonzo died Monday from injuries he received from the backhoe portion of a tractor he was using. No further details are available. The incident that occurred off of Drew Road was reported at 12:03 p.m., Imperial County Deputy Coroner Eric Frazier said.


Steel Plant Worker Crushed to Death

October 18, SOUDERTON, PA - 57 year old Dieu V. Nguyen of Lansdale has died today from injuries sustained Sunday at the Haberle Steel plant. Hilltown police said Nguyen was found pinned between two sheets of heavy steel stock around 10 a.m. Sunday. Police said the accident was reported to the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration.


Mortuary Employee Killed on the Job

October 18, PEARL CITY, HI - an unidentified employee of Mililani Memorial Park and Mortuary in Pearl City are mourning the loss of one of their employees who was killed on the job. The employee was operating a backhoe when it tipped over and pinned the employee, according to a prepared statement. UPDATE: Authorities have identified the employee as 42 year old Robert Ichioka of Central Oahu.


Farm Worker Killed by Truck

October 18, SALINAS, CA - 46 year old Alfredo Gonzalez Raya of Salinas, an employee for Church Brothers, died of blunt force injuries when he was struck by a semi-truck belonging to Church Brothers. Another worker was injured in the accident. Raya and the other worker had their backs to the semi and the driver did not see the men.


Plant Explosion in TX Kills Worker

October 18, ANTHONY, TX - Apolonio Arras died after a furnace explosion early this morning at the Arcelor Mittal Plant. Sheriff's officials said employees reported hearing a loud explosion and then saw heavy smoke. They noticed one employee was missing, entered the building and turned off the power to the furnaces. They found Arras on the ground and he later died after undergoing surgery. Crimes Against Persons detectives are now working working with officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration as they continue an investigation into the incident.


Worker Dies in Industrial Accident

October 17, CODORUS TWP, PA - 63 year old Dale Lentz, a maintenance worker for BAE, died Sunday as a result of injuries received in a work-related accident at the defense plant Oct 12. Lentz was using a piece of high-reach equipment similar to a cherry picker to repair a garage door overhead, said Dave Roccasecca, assistant director for the Harrisburg area office of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Lentz apparently hit his head and became pinned between the door and the high-reach from which he was working, and was crushed before a co-worker discovered him, Roccasecca said.


Pictsweet Employee Dies

October 17, BELLS, TN - an unidentified member of the sanitation crew at Pictsweet who was injured on Saturday has died today. The victim's co-workers say they believe he was hurt after his clothing became entangled in a machine. Company officials are not commenting but authorities are on site doing an investigation.


Semi Driver Killed in Truck Accident

October 15, WALNUT RIDGE, AR - 38 year old Rodney L. Dobbs was fatally injured on Friday morning when the tractor-trailer he was driving was involved in a one-vehicle accident in Missouri. According to a report from the Missouri State Police, the semi was eastbound and was passing another vehicle when the truck left the roadway on the left side, over corrected and then overturned and left the roadway on the right side.


Recently Laid Off Worker, Dies Helping Former Employer

October 13, OCONOMOWOC, WI - 55 year old Don Loppnow Jr., a sheet metal worker with MSI for 37 years, died from injuries sustained in a fall from a roof. He slipped off the dormer of the roof, landing on the porch and then fell to the ground. A co-worker tried to resuscitate him unsuccessfully. Despite doing work on the house owned by his former employer, Craig Coursin, president of MSI Development Corp., in Oconomowac, Supervisor Hager (OSHA) said Loppnow was recently laid off due to slow business and therefore was not being compensated for his work. As a result, Hager said OSHA could not issue citations despite Loppnow not wearing fall protection gear, among other potential safety violations.


Farm Accident Claims Woman's Life

October 11, ARCADE, NY - 39 year old Anna Eccles, a farm hard for Patrick Huton Farms, was found dead in a pasture at the farm. An investigation revealed that she was an employee of the farm and was most likely killed by a bull. Deputy Matt Sage, one of the officers who responded to the call, said the medical examiner's report stated that Anna sustained "blunt force injuries to the chest, consistent with an animal attack."

Two TN Postal Workers Killed During Robbery

October 18, HENNING, TN - 58 year old Judy Spray, rural carrier associate, and 33 year old Paula Robinson, retail clerk, were both shot and killed this morning at the rural West Tennessee post office where they worked. It appears they died in an attempted robbery. An investigation continues into this crime.


Taxi Driver Murdered in Possibly Robbery

October 18, SACRAMENTO, CA - a 53 year old driver for Yellow Cab was shot to death this morning near North Highlands. The victim was found slumped over the wheel of his cab at Hillsdale Village Apartments. Residents heard multiple gunshots and called the police around 3:20 a.m. He was shot at least once in his toros and was pronounced dead on the scene. UPDATE: Authorities have identified the victim as 54 year old James Walker of Sacramento.


Four U.S. Aid Workers Die in Plane Crash

October 17, LOS ANGELES, CA - Four U.S. medical aid workers from central California were killed in a small plane crash in northwestern Mexico, state officials said on Sunday. James Thornton, plastic surgeon; Graciela Sarmiento, doctor; Andrew Theil, non medical support staffer and Roger Lyon, pilot died in the crash. They were from Los Angeles going to Mexico to work on a Samaritanos del Aire project. The Flying Samaritans is an all-volunteer organization that transports medical and support personnel to at least 17 clinics in Baja California where they provide free medical services and supplies to those who lack medical care.


Beloved Store Owner Murdered, Friends Mourn

October 16, CHICAGO, IL - 59 year old Bassam "Ollie" Naoum was shot multiple times in the back about 9 p.m. Saturday inside the Munchies convenience store at 950 N. Orleans St. which he owned, officials said. Naoum was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he died, officials said. The Cook County medical examiner's office ruled Naoum's death a homicide. Police said that the motive did not appear to be a robbery because his Rolex watch wasn't stolen, money remained in the cash register and no other items appeared to have been taken.


Man Dies In Accident at Quarry

October 16, TOPEKA, KS - 52 year old William Oaks died Saturday morning after he was injured while working at Hamm's Quarry in Jefferson County, authorities said. According to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Oaks was injured when the conveyor system he was working on started up. Emergency crews responded to the quarry. Oaks was pronounced dead at the scene.


Road Construction Worker Killed by Dump Truck

October 16, ROLAND, OK - 48 year old Anthony Avery of Edmond, who was working at a construction site on Interstate 40 was killed when he was run over by a dump truck. Troopers say Avery was working at a construction site on I-40 westbound when the driver of the dump truck backed into the construction zone and ran over him.


Nursery Employee Killed When Truck Hit by Train

October 16, BERLIN TWP, OH - 50 year old Raul Hernandez of Mexico, an employee of Willoway Nursery died when his truck was hit by a train. Police said Hernandez was alone in his Ford F-150 heading south on a private road on Willoway property when it was was struck by a westbound Norfolk Southern train. Hernandez died upon impact due to blunt trauma after his truck was hit.


Highway Patrol Officer Dies in Helicopter Crash

October 15, WELDON SPRING, MO - 47 year old Sgt. Joseph G. Schuengel, a 17 year veteran with the MO Highway Patrol, died when the helicopter he was piloting crashed a few minutes after he dropped off two other troopers and was headed back to The Spirit of St.Louis Airport. Witnesses on the ground reported seeing a rotor blade separate from the aircraft, before it plunged to the ground near a residential street on Horseshoe Ridge Road in Clarkson Valley, avoiding nearby houses and people.


Restaurant Owner Dies After Being Attacked

October 15, WHEELING, VA - 37 year old Travis Hocutt, owner of Hocutt's Carolina Barbecue restaurant, has died after injuries he suffered in an attack outside his restaurant on October 9. Hocutt was reportedly beaten severely in the face and head and also suffered a cracked rib. Police are continuing their investigation.


Bakery Owner Shot and Killed

October 15, COLLEGE PARK, GA - College Park police are investigating a robbery and the shooting death of the owner of Sunset Thrifty Bakery and Meat. Police say a man entered the bakery and demanded money from a female employee. The employee gave the man the money. The owner was in the back of the store and when he came to the front, the owner was shot in the chest and died. Police have not released any names in connection with the shooting.


Man Dies in Combine Fire

October 15, ANITA, IA - 59 year old Mark Brown was discovered dead when an off-duty fireman called to report a fire. Investigators found Brown had died when his combine caught on fire. No other details are available and his death is still under investigation.


Truck Driver Dies in Crash

October 15, SHREVEPORT, LA - 46 year old Donald Gardner of Shreveport was killed in the early morning hours when his eastbound 18-wheeler ran off Interstate 20 and struck a guardrail in Ouachita Parish. Gardner was pronounced dead after he was taken to the St. Francis Medical Center in Monroe.


Construction Worker Dies in Roof Collapse

October 14, GAMBRILLS, MD - 46 year old David Kevin Gragan of LaPlata was killed in an industrial accident on a construction site at Waugh Chapel Elementary School located at 840 Sunflower Drive in Gambrills. He was an employee of Classic Iron Works of Mechancsville. Gragan was working in the new wing, which is still under construction, when the roof collapsed trapping him. Gragan was freed by fire personnel, however, succumbed to his injuries during transport to the hospital.


School Electrician Dies in Accident

October 14, MINDEN, LA - Ricky Hennigan, an electrician in the maintenance department for Webster Jr High School in Minden, was killed on the job Wednesday. Details of what caused Hennigan's death have not yet been released.


Deadly Trench Collapse in MN

October 14, BEMIDJI, MN - 59 year old Leon Jenakuski died when the trench he was in on the property of Bemidji Iron & Recycling collapsed on him. The trench was being dug by a private contractor who had been hired to excavate and repair a water line that was very deep in the ground. In the process of the excavation, the trench collapsed and Jenkauski, a friend of the contractor, was helping with the project and was pinned in the collapse, according to the press release.


Man Dies in Logging Accident

October 14, AUBURN, WA - 55 year old Byron Clevenger, a worker for Wyss Logging, died in a work-related logging accident in the Hancock forest near Buckley on Thursday morning. The death occurred in a section of the Hancock Forest owned by the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. Specifics to what caused Clevenger's death are not listed.


Three Charged in Murder of McDonald's Employee

October 13, BATESBURG, SC - 57 year old Willie Jennings was shot and killed Wednesday as he took the trash out at his job at McDonald's. Officers responding to a call about shots fired found Jennings in the parking lot of the restaurant. They said he had taken out the trash. Police have not released a motive for Jennings' murder.


Investigators Looking Into Divers Death

October 13, RICHMOND, TX - A contract worker died Wednesday while cleaning the inside of a municipal water storage tank in Richmond. The man, whose name has not been released, worked for a contractor who was performing routine maintenance on the tank by using scuba equipment and vacuuming the bottom of it. His partner who on the top of the tank noticed the diver's tether line became slack. He then put on scuba gear and went into the tank and found the man unresponsive with his mask off.


Man Installing Equipment Electrocuted

October 13, DES MOINES, IA - 35 year old Denver Smith died Wednesday after being electrocuted at Burrus Seed Farms near Arenzville, according to Morgan County Coroner Jeff Lair. Smith worked for the Baker Group of Des Moines and was installing equipment at Burrus when he came into contact with a live electrical line. Smith, who was on a ladder, was found on the ground and taken to Passavant Area Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about 10:30 a.m.


Longtime DC Sanitation Worker Shot for Unknown Reasons

October 13, WASHINGTON, DC - 51 year old Larry Hutchins of Suitland, MD and a longtime employee for the Dept of Public Works in DC was was killed Wednesday morning and a fellow employee was wounded when a man fired shots outside a Department of Public Works facility as trash collectors were preparing to start their rounds, police said. For reasons unknown the assailant walked into the lot about 6:15 a.m. and fired almost two dozen shots, officers said.


TX Police Officer Dies in Crash

October 13, EL PASO, TX - 41 year old Office Karl McDonough was killed and another officer was injured early Wednesday after an alleged drunken driver struck the patrol car they were in. The driver of the other vehicle ran a red light and struck the officers who were in the intersection. The other driver has been arrested and faces multiple charges.


Farmer Dies Pinned Under Tractor

October 13, CAMILLUS, NY - 58 year old Andrew G. Malar was killed after a tractor overturned on him while pulling down a tree on his property, police and a witness said. Malar and another man were clearing a path through the woods when they tried to remove a large, fallen tree by pulling it with a chain attached to the tractor. The tractor flipped over backwards on top of Malar, troopers said.


Man Dies at Chemical Plant in IA

October 13, CHANNAHON, IA - 46 year old Timothy Shields of Cedar Falls was killed Wednesday in a construction accident in Illinois. Shields was finishing demolition work at the Oiltanking plant in Channahon when he and another employee of Wood and Sons Construction were breaking down sections of an old truck weigh scale when a 10-foot section 1-inch rebar broke loose and hit him in the forehead, underneath his hard hat.


Worker Crushed at Nabisco Plant

October 13, OAK LAWN, IL - 62 year old Patrick Lynch was crushed to death in an accident at a Nabisco factory on Chicago's southwest side. Police and federal authorities still were trying to determine exactly what caused his death but the medical examiner's office ruled Lynch's death was due to compressional asphyxia resulting from an industrial accident.


Sanitation Worker Dies in Fall Under Collection Truck

October 12, SALISBURY, NC - 20 year old Caleb S. Shepard died early Tuesday after being run over by a garbage truck, according to the Highway Patrol. Shepard was hanging onto the back of the collection truck being driven by a co-worker and when the truck started to back up it appears Shepard fell off the back of the truck and was run over.


Electrical Accident Kills Worker

October 12, SNYDER, OK - 42 year old Mike Solomon of Marlow died Tuesday after suffering third-degree burns to 55 percent of his body in an accident Sunday. Two other workers who were also shocked are recovering from the accident. The men were electricians with Hertzler Electric of Duncan and were working at Martin Marietta Materials near Snyder when they were shocked.


Two Killed When Farm Equipment Hits Power Lines

October 12, PITTSGROVE TWP, NJ - 69 year old Grant Hitchner of Upper Pittsgrove and Ben Coleman of Elmer were killed when a combine came in contact with power lines. Coleman and Hitchner were using the combine to harvest wheat when it struck high tension wires, became energized, and caught fire, said Sgt. Julian Castellanos. According to police reports, Hitchner was trying to put out the fire and was electrocuted. Coleman, who was driving the combine, exited the vehicle to help Hitchner and was also electrocuted.


Cabbie Killed by Truck Trying to Cross Street

October 12, BRONX, NY - 62 year old Chan Park was killed when he was struck by a truck while trying to cross a street in Midtown. Park was taking a break and was attempting to cross the street but as he began to cross the street, the victim saw the pedestrian crosswalk light had changed and realized he did not have enough time to safely arrive to the other side of the street. But when he turned around to go back to the corner, just steps away from his vehicle, he slipped on the wet road and fell on his back.


Educator Dies Hiking With School Class

October 12, FAIRFIELD, ME - 66 year old Jeanne Lynch, an educational technician chaperoning a sixth-grade field trip on the Appalachian Trail has died after falling down an embankment on the trail near the town of Monson. School officials told the paper that about 75 sixth-graders were hiking on the trip and a few of them witnessed Lynch's fall. Lynch had been employed by the district for 11 years, and worked with special education students.


Electrical Worker Dies in Florida

October 11, DAYTONA BEACH, FL - 59 years old Wade Leonard Madole was killed Monday doing electrical work at a Port Orange business. Tonya Gilardi, spokeswoman for the Port Orange Fire Department, said Madole was with another worker when he touched a bare wire. Both workers thought the power to the wire had been turned off, she said.


Dupont Contract Worker Killed at Work

October 11, ORANGE, TX - 23 year old Matthew Etheredge died of blunt force trauma after apparently being struck by a rail car inside the Dupont plant in Orange. Etheredge was working on a railroad with several other workers, moving railroad cars on the tracks inside the plant. Etheredge apparently was struck by one of the rail cars and when workers weren't able to reach him via radio, they began searching for him. Co-workers found him unconscious near the edge of the railroad track. Emergency workers were called and began CPR but were unable to resuscitate him. Besides his full time work with Trans-Global Solutions, contracted to Dupont, Fire Captain Matthew Etheridge took pride in supporting his community as a volunteer firefighter in West Orange.


Worker Dies in Industrial Accident Blast

October 11, GARDEN CITY, KS - 48 year old Curtis Nicholson has died from injuries he sustained in an incident at a Kansas industrial plant October 7. Nicholson and another employee were injured when a plasma torch ignited vapors from barrels that had held hydraulic fluid. Finney County Undersheriff Andrews says that triggered a blast, which set Nicholson's clothes on fire.


Another West Virginia Coal Miner Dies on the Job

October 11, OAK HILL, WV - 56 year old William Dooley was killed at the company’s Kingston No. 1 Mine in Fayette County, W.Va. According to preliminary reports, Dooley had finished bolting a section of the mine roof at approximately 10:30 a.m. when a piece of rock fell without warning, striking Mr. Dooley. He was evacuated from the mine and transported by ambulance to Raleigh General Hospital where he was declared dead.


Worker Killed Making Repairs to Elevator

October 11, SOUTH BEACH, FL - 29 year old Edeleberto Fernandez was killed while trying to repair an elevator at an Ocean Drive building tower. Police said the man apparently lost his footing and fell behind the elevator. It's unclear how the man died.


Worker Electrocuted While Setting up Ride at Fair

October 11, COLUMBIA, SC - 43 year old Roger Thompson of Brooksville, FL was electrocuted while setting up a ride at the South Carolina State Fair in Columbia. Thompson was performing electronics work on The Rainbow ride when he was electrocuted about 3:30 p.m. Monday. He had been with North American Midway Entertainment for more than 20 years.


Man Killed on Central Illinois Construction Project

October 11, WASHBURN, IL - Authorities are waiting for autopsy results on a man who died while unloading a truck trailer at a central Illinois road construction site. Authorities said the man was having trouble unloading the trailer when its load shifted and fell on top of the cab where he was sitting. UPDATE: Authorities have identified the victim as 62 year old John Glidewell of Metamora.


Painter Dies in Fall From High Tension Pole

October 10, NEWARK, NJ - 38 year old Alontercilio Rodrigues of Newark fell about 75 feet to his death Sunday while painting a high-tension pole in Upper Macungie Township, authorities said Monday. Rodrigues was on a ladder painting the pole, which is in a cornfield, when he fell, Grim said. Rodrigues worked for Tower Maintenance of New York, which had been subcontracted by PPL, authorities said.


Man Killed in Industrial Accident

October 9, DENVILLE, NJ - 67 year old Charles Loeffler was killed Saturday afternoon when a piece of machinery he was operating crushed him, according to Denville police. Loeffler was moving a track-mounted probe - a piece of equipment used to bore samples from the earth's crust — into a garage when he was caught between the door frame of the garage and the machine, said Lt. Paul Nigro. His death has been ruled accidental.


Man Killed When Trapped in Cotton Farming Machine

October 9, BLAIR, OK - 42 year old Samuel Brown died Saturday on the land of a farmer for whom Brown was working. Officials say Brown was standing on top of a cotton compressing machine while operating it with a remote control. Somehow he became pinned inside the machinery. A couple of other workers found him trapped in the equipment, but they didn't know how long he had been there.


Farm Worker Dies In Tractor Rollover

October 9, SALINAS, CA - 26 year old Zenaido Perez-Lopez was killed when his tractor got struck in an irrigation ditch in a field north of Cooper Road, west of Highway 183. The tractor overturned and pinned Perez-Lopez underneath, deputies said. Investigators said they are trying to figure out what caused the tractor to get stuck.


Semi Driver Dies in Crash

October 9, VICTORIA, TX - 51 year old Barry Dean Phillips, an employee for Coffman Tank Services, was fatally injured Saturday morning after his tractor-trailer rolled on FM 407 and was struck by a pickup truck. He apparently ran off the road and then over corrected according to the Dept of Public Safety. The semi then rolled into a ditch.


Dentist Found Dead in Office, Likely Heart Attack

October 8, GALLATIN, TN - 40 year old Dr. Thomas Knapp, a beloved and quirky Hendersonville dentist, was found dead at his office Friday. Family members said he likely died as a result of a heart problem. Hendersonville police have not determined the cause of death and are waiting for a medical examiner’s report, Interim Chief Jim Jones said.


PA Man Killed on SD Construction Site

October 8, KIMBALL, SD - 40 year old Stephen C. McAdams of Wrightsville, PA was killed in a work-related accident at a wind turbine construction site Friday, according to authorities. McAdams was standing next to a pickup truck and talking to an occupant inside when he was trapped by a tractor-trailer trying to maneuver around the truck, Lt. Alan Welsh said. The driver of the tractor-trailer turned too sharply and its flatbed trailer loaded with rebar trapped McAdams against the truck and then ran him over, according to Welsh.

Western NY Farmer Dies in Tractor Accident

November 11, CARLTON, NY - 48 year old John Clark has been killed in a tractor accident. Clark was clearing land on his property when he fell off the tractor and then became pinned underneath it. Police are investigating whether Clark suffered some sort of medical condition that led to his fall.


PA Game Commission Officer Shot to Death

November 11, FAIRFIELD, PA - A Pennsylvania Game Commission officer, whose name has not been released, was shot and killed Thursday night in Freedom Township, southwest of Gettysburg, game commission spokesman Jerry Feaser said Friday. Feaser declined to discuss details of the shooting or release the slain officer's name. Authorities have a "person of interest" they are seeking in the officer's murder.


Worker Dies at Peanut Processing Plant

November 11, EDENTON, NC - 25 year old Steven Lamar Phelps died Thursday in an industrial accident at Seabrook Ingredients, a peanut processing plant. Phelps was wearing a safety harness that apparently became entangled in machinery, according to a separate news release from Edenton Police Chief Jay Fortenbery. The North Carolina Department of Labor was notified and is investigating, the release says.


Dump Truck Driver Dies in Rollover Crash

November 10, GRAF, IA - 43 year old Timothy Eubanks of Dubuque, an employee for Ehrlich Excavating, was killed Wednesday night in a rollover accident north of Graf. According to police, Eubanks failed to negotiate the turn from Potter Hill Road on to Graf Road, rolling the vehicle onto its side. He was thrown from the vehicle during the accident. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.


Orchard Worker Found Dead

November 10, BRIDGEPORT, WA - 66 year old German Jimenez-Flores failed to return home from work at Custom Orchards Wednesday night. His family called his supervisors who, with other employees, searched the orchard and found Jimenez-Flores pinned under a tractor. “It appeared he had been working on a side hill spreading chemicals when the incident occurred, and the tractor may have hit a tree, causing it to roll” a sheriff's spokesman said.


Truck Driver Killed When Cab Flips Forward

November 10, ST. AUGUSTINE, FL - 51 year old Michael Dunham was killed in a crash Wednesday morning in St. Johns County. Dunham was driving a flatbed truck when he was slowing to make a turn. As he was slowing, the cab of the truck flipped forward, ejecting Dunham through the front windshield and into the path of the truck, troopers said. The truck struck him and dragged him before stopping on an elevated curb on Center Place Way. He was not wearing his seatbelt.


Hotel Owner Murdered by Employee

November 10, CRESTVIEW, FL - 55 year old Rajiv "Roger" Parikh, owner of a Holiday Inn Express, was murdered Wednesday by one of his employees. Officers of the Crestview Police Department responded to a call of a shooting incident that occurred on the second floor of the hotel. Arriving Officers encountered a suspect, who was able to be detained peacefully. The suspect has been charged with murder but no motive for the shooting was given.


Firefighter Dies of Heart Attack

November 10, NORTH IRWIN, PA - 63 year old James Gumbert died of a heart attack while responding to a blaze early Wednesday morning. North Irwin Fire Department Chief, Thomas Harrison, said Gumbert was a dedicated firefighter.


Man Hit by Car Helping Children Cross Street

November 10, CALDWELL, NJ - 76 year old William Payne, a former West Caldwell councilman, was helping children cross Roseland Avenue about 3 p.m. Tuesday when he was hit by a car, said Caldwell police Lt. Marc Driggs. He died today of his injuries. The crash is under investigation by the Caldwell police and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, Driggs said.


Worker Killed in Industrial Accident

November 10, CLEVELAND, OH - 36 year old Richard Scheckel was killed Wednesday evening in an industrial accident at Cleveland State University. A spokesperson from the Cuyahoga County Coroner's Office Scheckel was on a mechanical lift at the Wolstein Center when he fell off and was crushed by the machine. Scheckel worked for a local painting and decorating company contracted out by CSU, the spokesperson said.


Worker Dies a Hero Trying to Save Co-Worker

November 9, BUFFALO, NY - 27 year old Timothy G. Schwab of Delevan died Tuesday while attempting to rescue a co-worker. The co-worker, Edward Kelsch, was attempting to clear a blockage in a tank trailer at Schwab Dairy Farm on Pigeon Hill Road, Freedom, when he entered the tanker and was overcome by methane fumes, State Police said. Schwab also entered the tanker to help Kelsch and was overcome by the fumes. Both men were removed from the tanker by several workers. Schwab was pronounced dead at Bertrand Chaffee Hospital in Springville.


Fatality Occurred on Construction Site

November 9, CHATHAM, VA - 57 year old Rodney Lee Rigney died in an accident at a construction site Tuesday evening. Rigney was attempting to secure air hoses between a boom dolly trailer and a trailer hauling a crane when the dolly trailer rolled down an incline and pinned him. Virginia Dept of Labor and Industry are conducting an investigation.


Worker Suffocates in Grain Bin Accident

November 9, TAFT, TX - 50 year old Arnulfo "Ernie" Medina died Tuesday after a massive pile of sorghum he was standing on pulled him under. Because of the nature of grain it took workers more than 8 1/2 hours to get Medina out of the grain elevator. For hours, each time emergency personnel got close to Medina’s body, the grain would pull him away, Moody said. Medina had worked at Taft Grain and Elevator Co. for about five weeks when he died.


One Killed in Upstate NY Plant

November 9, TONAWANDA, NY - 57 year old Richard Folaron of South Wales was killed in an explosion at a DuPont production plant Tuesday. Folaron and a second victim who is hospitalized, were welders with a specialty contractor and were attaching a bracket onto a 10,000-gallon metal storage tank. Folaron was working on the top of the tank when the explosion occurred, sending the top flying off and killing him instantly, Mollenberg-Betz and Town of Tonawanda police officials said.


Housing Authority Worker Killed in Accident

November 9, TARENTUM, PA - 58 year old John Kotchey of Glenshaw, an Allegheny County employee, died after the power saw he was using kicked back and cut his neck. Investigators say Kotchey was cutting a broken water line when the accident happened. The housing authority's police chief said Kotchey was wearing safety gear, including eye and ear protection, a mask and steel-toed boots. Chief Mike Vogel also said the saw had a safety guard.


Worker Dies in Trench Collapse

November 9, WILLIAMSPORT, PA - 52 year old Stephen P. Beattie was killed Tuesday morning when a pile of dirt, believed to be at least 5 feet high, suddenly collapsed into the trench he was working in. Beattie had already died of "compressional asphyxiation" when rescuers got to him. When firefighters arrived on the scene, there was no evidence of any equipment in place to shore up the trench, fire officials said. Beattie was an employee for Krape Excavating of Pine Creek Township.


Road Construction Worker Crushed by Equipment

November 9, NEWARK, NJ - 51 year old Pasquale Dirienzo of Nutley was died this morning after being caught under a milling machine. Dirienzo was setting the depth on the "rolling grinder" machine when the operator of the apparatus noticed he had been trapped. The accident took place at 12:09 a.m. on the eastern spur of the Turnpike near milepost 106.4 in Newark.


Worker is Killed at Recycling Center

November 9, ST. LOUIS, MO - 52 year old Sharon Welling died Tuesday from injuries sustained in a forklift accident at the Isabella County Recycling Center Monday afternoon. According to the sheriff's department, she was struck by a forklift carrying a recycling bin driven by another employee. Welling suffered leg and pelvic injuries and was airlifted from the recycling center and later died at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids.


Employee Killed at Landfill

November 9, WAUKEGAN, WI - 42 year old Lemuel Gonzales was crushed to death Tuesday while working at the Veolia Environmental Services landfill on Green Bay Road in Zion, Lake County Coroner Richard Keller said. Gonzales was working between two extremely large garbage containers when a cable broke and the two containers slid together, crushing him. OSHA is investigating.


Handyman Dies After Beating

November 9, OMAHA, NE - Robert Harden, a handyman for a boarding house where he lived, was severely beaten Tuesday inside the building. Mr. Harden died later at the hospital from his injuries. Another resident of the boarding house has been arrested in Harden's death.


Employee Killed in Paper Plant Accident

November 9, WAGRAM, NC - Kenneth Oxendine was hit by a forklift in the Wagram Paper Stock Inc. plant Tuesday, Wagram police said. No other details about the accident were available.


Semi Driver Dies in Crash

November 9, PINE GROVE, PA - 42 year old Jarzab Zbigniew of Chicago, IL died when his tractor-trailer, carrying fruit, hit a guardrail and rolled onto its side. He was not wearing a seat belt, police said. Zbiginew was thrown from the vehicle and killed.


Farmer Dies From Fire Injuries

November 9, WALCOTT, IA - 61 year old Loren Arp has died from injuries he sustained in a fire October 1. He was seriously burned when a suspected dust buildup caused an explosion and fire in the combine he was operating. Arp’s neighbors gathered to finish harvesting his crops a couple of weeks after he was hurt. Arp leaves behind a wife and five grown children.


Logging Truck Accident Kills Driver

November 9, BRANCHVILLE, SC - 28 year old Johnny Sellers was killed Tuesday when another log truck apparently did not yield the right of way and pulled in front of Sellers truck. The collision sent logs from the second truck onto the cab of Sellers' truck, further pinning him in the cab, authorities said. Sellers died at the scene.


Shop Owner Found Dead in Store

November 8, PHILADELPHIA, PA - 30 year old Annie Huynh, owner of Kim's Nails, was found dead on the floor of her store when employees came to work Monday morning. Huynh was killed between 8 and 9:20 a.m., police said. It wasn’t clear exactly clear how the mother of a 6-year-old boy was murdered.


Man Dies of Crushing Injuries

November 8, MEDINA, OH - 69 year old David Hlausa, owner of an industrial business, was killed when a piece of equipment he was working on fell on him. He was working on a power cabinet that was about 3 feet off the ground on a forklift when it fell off sideways, crushing Hlausa underneath. He had been working alone and was later found by employees.


Man Killed in Gravel Truck Accident

November 8, HAMBURG, AR - 59 year old Dickey Youngblood was killed when the gravel truck he was driving overturned. Hamburg died of massive head trauma in the 11:22 a.m. accident on Monday. According to police, Youngblood had been on the job for four hours when the accident occurred at the intersection of U.S. 167-B and North West Avenue. Police say he failed to negotiate the intersection.


Market Employee Killed During Robbery

November 8, SAN BERNARDINO, CA - 39 year old Anarjit Sing of Riverside was shot and killed at a San Bernardino market Monday night. Police arrived to find Sing suffering from gunshot wounds and he died at the scene. Police suspect robbery was the motive.


Trucker Dies After Truck Crashes Into River

November 8, MATTAWA, WA - 45 year old Albert D. Gumm of Nampa, ID was killed when the semi he was driving left Highway 243, rolled down an embankment and came to rest on its top, submerged in the Columbia River. The cause of the accident still is under investigation, according to the State Patrol.


Worker Dies After Hitting Gas Line

November 8, TIOGA, ND - 30 year old Thomas Chojnacki of Posen, MI, who was installing an underground electric line northeast of here, died Monday after hitting a natural gas line which caused a rupture that led to his death. Chojnacki was installing underground electrical lines when his plow hit a high-pressure natural gas line that was charged with approximately 650 foot pounds of pressure. Chojnacki, who was behind the plow when the rupture occurred, was thrown approximately 100 feet due to the resulting release of natural gas, and died from his injuries.


Construction Worker Killed by Dump Truck

November 8, BELHAVEN, NC - 57 year old Charles Barnes of Murfreesboro died when he was run over by a dump truck at his work site. According to NC Highway Patrol the rear gate hit Barnes and knocked him down; he was then run over by the rear tires. Two vehicles with alarms activated were working close to where Barnes was walking and he possibly got the two confused. CPR was performed on the way to the hospital, where Barnes later died.


Worker Killed in Plant Accident

November 8, TROY, AL - 35 year old Rodney Williams was killed and another injured Monday in an accident at a plant in Troy. Police responded to KW Plastics, where two employees had been hit by a truck, according to information released by Chief Anthony Everage. Occupational Safety and Health Administration was notified by KW Plastics and will be conducting an investigation, and the Troy Police Department is continuing to investigate.


Worker Dies in Fall

November 7, SEDALIA, MO - 53 year old Bill Chambers of Green Ridge died Sunday after falling from a lift while working last week. Chambers was working to repair a chute while standing on a pallet that was raised by a forklift. A company spokesman said his wrench slipped and he lost his balance, falling to the concrete floor about six and a half feet below. He died Sunday from head injuries suffered in the accident.


Church Employee Killed

November 7, BATON ROUGE, LA - 22 year old Jordan Gautreau of Gonzales, an employee of Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge died after being hit by a car while he was hanging a sign for the church. According to police, one driver was pulling into the church's parking lot when his car sideswiped an oncoming vehicle. The oncoming car ran off the road, hitting Gautreau. An investigation is still under way.


Dump Truck Collides With Train, Driver Killed

November 7, OXFORD TWP, OH - 83 year old Peter Klaus is dead after a crash with a train. Investigators said a witness saw the dump truck enter the crossing, into the path of an oncoming train. The train engineer tried to stop and sounded his horn but Klaus seemed unaware of the train. The train hit the truck, flipping it over.


Young Store Clerk Killed During Robbery

November 6, FAYETTEVILLE, NC - 19 year old Kyle Harris was murdered by robbers who entered the pawn shop where he was working. A Fayetteville Police Department spokesperson said a man and woman walked into the Cumberland Pawn Shop at 713 Grove Street around 5:15 p.m. and murdered Harris. Police know the identities of the robbery suspects and are looking for them.


Farmer Killed in Tractor Accident

November 6, RUSSELLVILLE, KY - 85 year old James W. Southerland was killed when he was run over by his tractor. He was attempting to start the machine when it was still in gear. When it started the tractor leaped forward and ran over Southerland, according to the sheriff’s office.


Fire Captain Dies in Accident at Station

November 5, NASHVILLE, IN - 53 year old Capt.Leonard Arthur Murray, a volunteer firefighter, died of head injuries while doing maintenance on a vehicle. The vehicle rolled forward pinning him against a wall. Murray had served the department for five years.


Man Dies at Construction Site

November 5, MONMOUTH, WA - 52 year old Franklin Shepherd was found dead on the site of a home construction project. He apparently committed suicide and was found by a co-worker.


Federal Investigators Looking Into Workers Death

November 5, MENAN, ID - 25 year old David Rodriguez, an employee for Walker Produce, died after being crushed beneath a 1,000-pound loading rack at the produce business. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and local authorities are trying to determine just what happened when the loading rack fell on him while he was cleaning last Wednesday. Rodriguez was found unconscious and died two days later at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center.


Fisherman Dies at Sea

November 4, PROVINCETOWN, MA - 55 year old John "Woodsy" Woods died at sea of a heart attack while reeling in a giant tuna. A U.S. Coast Guard rescue crew responded Thursday afternoon after receiving a mayday call from Woods’ boat, the 31-foot Dixie II. Woods had collapsed while reeling in a tuna. He was taken to Falmouth Hospital by helicopter where he was pronounced dead.