Weekly Toll

Industrial Incident Claims Life of Worker

April 22, CANTON, OH - 31 year old Shawn Dixon died this morning after an incident at Canton Drop Forge. Dixon was attempting to remove a pallet from a machine that uses high pressure blastings to remove imperfections from forgings when a cable snapped, causing a hopper to pivot backwards at a high rate of speed, a Coroner’s Office spokeswoman said. Dixon was thrown into a metal structure and then fell backward onto a walkway. The machine was not operating at the time of the incident.



American Photojournalist & Film Maker Killed in Libya

April 21, LIBYA/NEW YORK CITY - 41 year old Chris Hondros suffered fatal massive brain injury when he and three other journalists were hit by a rocket-propelled grenade while covering a battle between Moammar Gadhafi's government forces and NATO-backed rebels who have held the city. Hondros was working in Libya for New York-based Getty Images since early April. The explosion also killed a British photojournalist and injured two others.



Dump Truck Driver Dies After Smashing Into Building

April 21, SAVANNAH, GA - 71 year old Albert Frazier died in a crash of the dump truck he was driving. Witnesses tell WSAV the dump truck clipped another truck and the driver apparently lost control, over-corrected and drove straight into the building. It took several hours to remove Frazier from the vehicle and he was pronounced at the scene.



Underwater Surveyor Dies During Dive

April 21, ESTERO, FL - 23 year old Hugo Amaliel Soto Catalan of Bonita Springs died in the water while diving with scuba gear. His body was located about three hours after he went under water shortly after signaling that he was in distress. He was performing a scuba dive to check for erosion in a large pond in the Stoneybrook Golf Club gated community in Estero. A truck with Erosion Barrier Installations was at the scene of the golf club, however it was not immediately clear whether the diver's were employed by the company.



Construction Site Security Guard Shot and Killed

April, 20, FRESNO, TX - 26 year old Fidel Sanchez of Houston was shot and killed when he tried to stop a major construction site theft. Sanchez received an alarm on the property site of J.D. Abrams Construction and found the theft underway. It was then he was shot by the thieves who police are actively looking for.


Winery Worker Found Dead Inside Wine Tank

April 20, NAPA, CA - 43 year old Gustavo Javier Muro of Napa, an assistant winemaker, died Wednesday at a winery in east Napa when he somehow fell inside a wine tank. He was found on an adjustable lid six feet inside the tank at Ancien Wines said Napa County Sheriff's Capt. Tracey Stuart. It is unclear when Muro was last seen alive, however Stuart stressed Muro did not drown. An autopsy will be conducted Friday to determine how he died, she said.


Welding Related Explosion Kills Worker

April 20, PUEBLO, CO - 30 year old Ignacio Rendon Cornelio, from Mexico but a contract worker from Louisiana, died of injuries sustained in an explosion Wednesday. The incident happened at Western Reynolds Recycling in Pueblo. The explosion was sparked by a welding operation where he was attempting to cut a tank. It is unknown what the tank had contained.


Firefighter Dies of Burn Injuries

April 20, CACTUS, TX - 49 year old Elias Jaquez died Wednesday of burn injuries he sustained earlier this month. Jaquez, a Cactus Volunteer firefighter, was running away from the fierce flames of the TX fires when he tripped and fell. He suffered third-degree burns, and had undergone numerous surgeries.


Worker Dies From Crushing Injuries

April 19, INDIANAPOLIS, IN - 55 year old Randy Wimmer of Lawrence died after being pinned by a semi Tuesday evening at O'Neal Steel. When a tractor trailer driver was backing in his trailer to the loading dock, somehow Wimmer became trapped between the trailer and dock suffering fatal injuries. The incident is being investigated by IOSHA.


Auto Repair Shop Owner Found Shot to Death

April 19, POINT LOMA, CA - 63 year old Jalal Abou of Rancho San Diego was found shot to death Tuesday by a customer arriving at the shop. Abou was owner of Joe's Auto Repair and was found next to a vehicle that still had the side door open. He suffered gun shots wounds to his chest. A witness saw two Hispanic males at the scene engaged in some sort of fight and is speaking with police.



Driver Killed When Pinned Under Wrecked Semi

April 19, HEGINS, ME - 45 year old Norman L. Tuttle of Presque Isle was killed when his rig transporting a load of potatoes failed to follow a curvy Route 125 between Pitman and Hegins, collided with a truck hauling hay, tore through a section of guide-rail and overturned onto its driver's side. Tuttle was thrown from the rig and pinned under the trailer.


Worker Dies of Crushing Injuries

April 19, ORRINGTON, ME - 38 year old William Jordan of Holden was found pinned between a tree and a skidder Tuesday. He was an employee for Eckhert & Sons. No other information regarding the incident is reported but is being investigated by OSHA.


Tow Truck Driver Hit and Killed

April 19, MILWAUKEE, WI - 59 year old Daniel G. Bobholz of Allentown was killed Tuesday as he tried to remove a vehicle that slid off the slippery roadway in Washington Co. According to a release, as a Washington County Sheriff's Office deputy directed traffic around Bobholz, the deputy's squad car was sideswiped by an SUV, which then struck Bobholz. The impact pushed Bobholz against his tow truck before he fell into the roadway, where he was then struck by a passing semi. Bobholz was employed by Bob's Main Street Auto & Towing.


Tree Trimmer Electrocuted

April 18, MONROVIA, CA - 48 year old Roque Valdez was electrocuted and died while trimming trees Monday. According to police, Valdez was high in a tree and cut a branch which hit a high voltage electric wire. When the branch hit the wire it bounced towards him, electrocuting him. Cal-OSHA is investigating.


Oilfield Worker Killed in Fall

April 18, CAMERON, LA - 27 year old Philip Joseph Kliebert of Covington, an Alliance Oilfield Services employee, died on Monday while working on a platform south of Cameron. Kliebert was on a crew working to plug the natural gas production rig 129 miles south of Lake Charles when he fell through the platform.




Volunteer Firefighter Collapses on Call

April 18, WINDSOR, CT - 50 year old Robert Watts collapsed and died while on a call Monday. He was charging a fire hydrant when he suddenly collapsed. No word at this time to the actual cause of death.




School Bus Driver Killed in Crash

April 18, UPPER MACUNGIE, PA - Kelly Smith was killed when the school bus she was driving crashed into a municipal building. Police say a medical condition could have affected the driver. Smith was a 10 year employee for Parkland School District. No students were on the bus at the time of the crash.



Officer Shot and Killed by Suspect

April 18, KALAMAZOO, MI - 35 year old Officer Eric Zapata, of the Kalamazoo Police Department, was shot and killed by a man brandishing a gun before that man turned the gun on himself. Police responded to a report of gunshots and encountered the man on his porch. He then advanced toward one of the officers and pulled out a handgun and exchanged gunfire. When the gunman encountered Zapata, who was trying to block the man, he shot and killed the officer. He then turned the gun on himself.



Coal Truck Driver Killed in Triple Semi Wreck

April 18, RALEIGH, IL - 49 year old Bradley Conkle from Rosiclare died at the scene of an accident involving three semi tractor-trailers early Monday. Conkle was driving a Kenworth and dump trailer loaded with coal when he lost control on the curve and overturned, a preliminary crash investigation by the Illinois State Police indicated. The drivers of the other trucks were treated and released.



Electrician Dies of Electrocution Injuries

April 18, GRAND RAPIDS, MI - 46 year old Jeffrey Summerfield died Monday of injuries when he was electrocuted Monday while working at a local grocery store. An electrician working for Wachter Contracting Services, Summerfield was working on wiring or cabling when a co-worker heard him scream. The co-worker tried to perform CPR but Summerfield was later pronounced dead. Authorities at the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration said cabling was being installed in the ceiling and they are investigating his death.



Deputy Sheriff Killed by Prisoner

April 18, TEXARKANA, TX - 54 year old Deputy Sherri Jones was shot and killed in the basement of the Bowie County Courthouse while preparing to transport a prisoner at approximately 2:30 pm. She was moving the prisoner from a courtroom to a transport van to transport him to a state facility when he attacked her. The inmate overpowered her, took her gun, and fatally shot her. He then stole the transport van and fled to Arkansas where he was taken into custody.


Contract Worker Dies of Unknown Reasons

April 18, PORT ARTHUR, TX - 52 year old Arnel Ocampo of the Philippines, a contract welder working on the Motiva plant expansion in Port Arthur who was found dead Monday. Contractors said that they saw him slumped over on a scaffold at about 5:15 p.m. and tried to yell for him, but he was not moving, Burnett said. The contractors told the judge there was welding equipment on the scaffold with Ocampo.



Student Filming School Project Dies in Fall

April 17, BOSTON, MA - 21 year old Justin Amorratanesuchad from Seattle, WA died early Sunday after falling from the roof of a building during a film project. He was working on a film off campus when he fell, according to college President Jackie Liebergott. The Boston Globe reported that Amorratanasuchad fell from the top of an apartment building in the city’s South End.



Firefighter Killed in Crash Was Responding to Fire

April 17, AMORY, MS - 18 year old Jacob Anthony Carter was killed in a car accident while responding to a Sunday morning fire call, according to Monroe County Coroner Alan Gurley. He died at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo after suffering multiple traumas when his 2002 Ford Explorer ran off the road, overturned and struck a tree, Gurley said. Carter, who was a firefighter with the Becker-Athens Volunteer Fire Department, was not wearing his seat belt.



Coal Train Crash Kills Two

April 17, RED OAK, IA - 48 year old Conductor Patricia "Trish" Hyatt and 48 year old Engineer Tom Anderson, both from Creston died when the coal train they were operating crashed into the back of another train. The incident is still under investigation but authorities say the coal train rear-ended a train carrying maintenance equipment killing Hyatt and Anderson. Those on the other train were not injured.



Farm Tractor Overturns, Crushing Driver

April 17, TAHLEQUAH, OK - 39 year old Sylvester Garcia was killed when the tractor he was driving flipped and pinned him under the wheel. He was pulling a trailer with 6 passengers but according to authorities the trailer somehow detached from the tractor and then the tractor flipped and rolled several times. Garcia was thrown from the tractor and pinned under one of its wheels.


Worker Crushed by Industrial Equipment

April 17, WYOMING, IL - 34 year old Troy Bryner died Sunday after an accident at an East Peoria Caterpillar facility. He was transported to the hospital after he was crushed by a machine he was servicing inside Cat's building KK. It wasn't immediately clear what led to the incident but an investigation continues.


Painter Falls From Height, Dies From Injuries

April 16, JACKSONVILLE, FL - 42 year old Samuel Shafer died from injuries after he fell from a ladder while painting at a Neptune Beach house Thursday. Another worker was also injured but released from the hospital. Both men fell to the concrete from where they were working on a scaffold and ladders.


Worker Dies When Equipment Falls From Crane

April 16, WESTWAGO, LA - 55 year old Johnnie Kennedy of Grant, AL was killed Saturday evening near Bayou Segnette State Park, when a piece of construction equipment fell on the crane he was operating, crushing him inside. Responding deputies, along with West Jefferson EMS and Fire Rescue, found the worker trapped inside the crane beneath the piece of equipment.


Worker Dies From Fall at Electrical Plant

April 16, ROCKPORT, IN - 54 year old Kent Todd of Evansville, an employee for Enerfab and working at the American Electric Power Plant in Rockport died from a fall Saturday night. The coroner reports that Todd died of massive internal injuries after falling 150 feet. The incident is still under investigation.




Firefighter Dies Battling Blaze

April 15, EASTLAND, TX - 51 year old Gregory Simmons, an Eastland Firefighter, died Friday after flames overcame his fire truck and he and other firefighters jumped out. Autopsy results show he died of blunt force trauma and not from the fire. Justice of the Peace James King said Friday that Simmons apparently was overcome by smoke and fell in a ditch. Authorities don't yet know if Simmons died in a crash of the fire truck, or if he was fatally injured after getting out of the vehicle.




Worker Fatally Electrocuted

April 15, FRONT ROYAL, VA - 19 year old Aaron W. Bradley was fatally electrocuted in an incident Friday. Bradley was in a raised bucket truck when he came into contact with a high voltage wire. He was employed by D & E Tree and Landscaping.


Company Executive Dies in Plane Crash

April 15, DE QUEEN, AR - 52 year old Timothy Stanley of Broussard, LA and President of Rose Resources Oil & Gas was killed in a plane crash Friday. Stanley was on his way to Oklahoma Thursday but had to stay over in De Queen because of inclement weather. As he tried to take off Friday morning there was a problem with the plane and he attempted to return to the De Queen airport but came up short of the runway. The plane was registered to Rose Resources.




Worker Crushed Under Front End Loader

April 15, OCALA, FL - 56 year old Ronnie Fort was killed when when a 33,290-pound L90E Volvo front-end loader fell on top of him while he was changing a tire. An employee said it appears Fort had taken the rear left tire off and was in the process of taking off the right rear tire. Several pieces of wood were under the rear left wheel, and it appears that when Fort was in the process of placing pieces of wood under the right rear wheel, the wood on the rear left side weakened and split, causing the loader to collapse onto him. His co-workers worked frantically with a forklift and powered jacks to lift the loader off him.


Farmer Electrocuted Setting up Sprinklers

April 15, MAYO, FL - 48 year old Timothy Blake Guyton was died from cardiac arrest, secondary to being electrocuted on his farm. Guyton and others were setting up irrigation pipes when Guyton raised a pipe vertically to shake debris from inside it. “Witness stated that in the failing light Guyton failed to notice the proximity of the pipe to an overhead power line,” police said. “Witness advised that when Guyton shook the pipe it made contact with the electrical line and caused his immediate electrocution.”


Letter Carrier Struck by Train

April 14, PAWNEE, OK - 57 year old Perry Southern was killed when he was struck by a train. Police say Southern was on foot at the double-line crossing at 11th and Harrison streets when he was hit by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe train. He died later at a Stillwater Hospital.


Surveyor Electrocuted in Bucket Truck

April 14, JACKSONVILLE, FL - 27 year old Matthew Rynish of Wisconsin was electrocuted Thursday in the bucket of his lift truck. Rynish, an employee of Wisconsin-based Ayres Associates, was taking pictures of the intersection of New Kings Road and Edgewood Avenue North shortly before 6 p.m. when a co-worker said he thinks he touched a power line, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office incident report. He was slouched over unconscious in the lift bucket.



Port Worker Dies After Being Pinned Against Container

April 14, PORT EVERGLADES, FL - 29 year old Antonio Del Hierro Perez of Hialeah was killed Thursday afternoon when he was struck by a tractor-trailer, the Broward Sheriff's Office said. He was assisting a truck driver who was picking up a container and was standing in front of the container as the driver backed up to load it onto the bed of the tractor-trailer. The truck driver struck Del Hierro, pinning him between the trailer and the container.


Industrial Incident Causes Worker's Death

April 13, SAN ANTONIO, TX - 50 year old John Nick was killed Wednesday while trying to fix a tractor in far West Bexar County. Nick was working on a loader machine attempting to stop a hydraulic fluid leak at a skeet range when the tractor's bucket shifted and he became pinned between the bucket and the machine's two arms. He was killed instantly.


Lighting Installer Electrocuted

April 12, GREENVILLE, TX - 22 year old James Leo Banks of Crowley, a subcontractor installing lighting at Greenville High School was electrocuted as he worked Tuesday night. Banks was conducting contract work and was electrocuted while working in a crawl space at the high school. Banks was employed by Lighting Technology, a sub-contractor for DMI, a company that has been conducting work at the high school for the past several weeks.


Man Collapses, Dies While Working

April 12, MILACA, MN - 55 year old Robert Scheerle collapsed while working at the Phoenix Banquet Center. He was an employee for Pool Products of Waite Park. Employees told police the collapse may have been caused by a gas pressure washer being used inside the pool area. Fire department personnel used a portable carbon monoxide detector, which indicated a presence of the gas, but not at levels high enough to trigger the alarm. Other areas of the building were checked and staff was instructed to fully ventilate the center. Official cause of death is pending.


Semi Driver Killed in Fiery Collision Identified

March 30, LINCOLN, NE - 52 year old Michael Wiechert of St. Claire Shores, MI has been identified from dental records as the truck driver who died in a fiery crash involving another semi. The NE Highway Patrol says Wiechert's semitrailer ran into the back of a tanker truck and caught fire. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The patrol says dental records were needed to make a positive identification.



















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Man's Death Being Investigated

April 14, MIDLAND, MI - An unidentified man died after falling from a catwalk today at Dow Chemical Co's Michigan Operation's site in Midland. The man is reported to have fallen about 30 feet and suffered head injuries. UPDATE: Authorities have identified the worker David Roy, a 24 year employee of Dow. He was a steward and committeeman with Local 12075 of the Steelworkers union.



Trucker Dies After Crash

April 13, GREENWICH, PA - 58 year old Wiley Russell of Lufkin, TX overturned his tractor trailer rig on Interstate 78. He died at the scene shortly after the accident. An autopsy will be performed to see if an unknown medical condition may have contributed to the accident.



Man Shot and Killed Inside Barber Shop

April 13, ALEXANDRIA, VA - 39 year old Le Hoang was shot and killed and another employee shot and injured when an assailant walked into the Belle View Barber Shop and opened fire. Police have identified a suspect and are looking for him. They say the shooting was neither a random attack nor a robbery.



Road Construction Worker Struck and Killed by Semi Trailer

April 13, DECATUR, IN - 25 year old Ryan Zimmerman of Fort Wayne was struck and killed by a semi tractor trailer on U.S. 27. The west bound tractor trailer turned right on to U.S. 27 from Winchester Street and in the process of making the turn, the trailer entered into the construction part of U.S. 27 striking Zimmerman and fatally injuring him.



Graduate Student Killed in Lab Incident

April 13, NEW HAVEN, CT - 22 year old Michele Dufault of Scituate, MA, a Yale University Senior nearing graduation was killed inside a chemistry lab machine shop when her hair became caught in the lathe, whose rotating axis is used to hold materials like wood or metal being shaped. She died from accidental asphyxia by neck compression, according to the Connecticut medical examiner's office.




Two Tower Workers Fall to Their Deaths

April 13, BUCK CREEK, IN - 32 year old Paul Aliss of Mesquite, TX and 29 year old Ernest Garcia of Laredo, TX died after falling from a radio tower. The men worked for ERI Inc. of Chandler, IN. A crew of 5 men were working at a height of 340 feet when Aliss and Garcia fell, along with a piece of equipment being used to add another segment to the tower. The radio tower is one of many owned by Schurz Communications.



Industrial Incident Causes Man's Death

April 13, HAGERSTOWN, MD - 25 year old Aaron Ball of Mercersburg was killed Wednesday while working at the Purina feed plant off Hopewell Road in Hagerstown. Ball fell into a feeder line while cleaning a machine. The incident is being investigated.


Employee Shot to Death During Robbery

April 13, FLORENCE, SC - 33 year old Stephen Christopher Deaver was shot in the chest and another employee wounded during a robbery at a Florence pawn shop. A teen has been arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder, armed robbery and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.




Correctional Officer Dies After Assault

April 12, PIERRE, SD - 63 year old Officer Ronald Johnson died after being assaulted by 2 inmates attempting an escape of the South Dakota State Penitentiary. He was transported by ambulance to a Sioux Falls hospital where he was pronounced dead. Another officer was injured in the assault and was transported to the hospital to be evaluated. The 2 inmates were later captured inside the prison.



Cement Truck Overturns, Driver Killed

April 12, AROMAS, CA - 63 year old Jesus Gonzales Jr. of Watsonville died in a crash on Highway 129 Tuesday. Gonzalez was driving west in a loaded cement truck with a trailer, CHP officer Grant Boles said. Gonzalez's truck entered the eastbound lane, tipped over and hit a tree, Boles said. The truck flipped on it's roof and Gonzales died at the scene.



Worker Dies Working on Raising Levee

April 12, NEW ORLEANS, LA - 32 year old William Morgan of Abita Springs was killed Tuesday in an accident at a pumping station at the Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuge. According to the New Orleans Coroner reports that Morgan died of injuries that included a crushed chest. The accident occurred at refuge pumping station CTU-6. The work was being done by the Great Southern Dredging Co.




Man Hit by Rolling Commercial Truck

April 12, DUNDALK, MD - 46 year old James Mills Gillus died Tuesday morning at the Dundalk Marine Terminal after being run over by a commercial truck that had started rolling after he'd parked it, according to a preliminary investigation. He was an employee of Maryland Environmental Services.



Officer Shot During Traffic Stop

April 12, TRUMANN, AR - 30 year old Officer Jonathan Schmidt was shot and killed during a traffic stop Tuesday. During a traffic stop in front of the Cottonwood Manor Apartments a passenger in the back of the car opened fire, striking Schmidt in the neck. The driver of the car states that Schmidt pushed his partner to safety even after he was shot in the neck. The driver says Schmidt was then shot several more times. Schmidt was taken to the NEA Baptist Hospital and pronounced dead. The suspect was taken to a nearby hospital and is in police custody at this time.




Semi Driver Dies in Crash From Bridge

April 11, YAUHANNAH, SC - 38 year old Jack Manigault Jr. of Georgetown was killed when his semi crashed through a guard rail and plunged off the Yauhannah Bridge Monday. Manigault and his semi had plunged 20 feet from the bridge to the marshland below. It is unknown why the semi left the roadway but Manigault was on the phone with a friend when the friend heard him scream, followed by a loud noise before silence.



Worker Crushed Under Falling Slab of Granite

April 11, LOUISVILLE, KY - 50 year old Sylvia Walters was killed Monday when a piece of granite that was being moved fell on her. She worked for KBR Manufacturing. Louisville Metro Police spokesman Dwight Mitchell says other employees found Walters under the stone and called for help. She died at the scene. The incident is being investigated.




Tunnel Worker Killed by Small Train

April 11, WEBSTER, NY - an unidentified man died Monday while working in an underground tunnel beneath Lake Ontario. Workers were boring a tunnel at the construction site of the Monroe County Water Authority's water treatment plant when one of them fell off a small, underground locomotive and was run over, police and fire officials said. The incident is under investigation. UPDATE: Authorities have identified the worker as 45 year old Thomas Means of Walworth.




Delivery Driver Dies in Truck Rollover

April 11, DEER ISLE, ME - 43 year old Randy Allard of Bucksport died when the delivery box truck he was driving crashed on the causeway between Deer Isle and Little Deer Isle. Allard, who was driving a box style "bread truck" that went off the causeway, was thrown from the vehicle, which rolled down an embankment and came to rest on top of him. First responders found Allard pinned beneath the delivery truck. Crews from Memorial Ambulance were unable to revive Allard, who was pronounced dead at the scene.



Tree Trimmer Electrocuted

April 11, CHARTIERS, PA - 46 year old Dale Delozier of Eighty Four died after he was electrocuted when he hit a power line as he was trimming trees. Delozier was owner of D&D Tree Service. He was taken to Canonsburg Hospital where he later died.



Tree Trimmer Killed by Runaway Truck

April 11, PLATTE CITY, MO - 30 year old Justin Hartman of Dearborn was killed Monday when an unoccupied utility truck rolled into him. According to the Highway Patrol, the truck that struck Hartman then knocked him into a second unoccupied vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.


Worker Falls From Bucket Truck

April 11, OZARK, AL - 23 year old James Lewis of Ozark died after falling about 40 feet from the bucket of a truck he was working from. Lewis was working to clear tree limbs from around power lines when he fell. Lewis was pronounced dead at Southeast Alabama Medical Center at 2:51 p.m.


Trucker Dies in Fiery Crash

April 11, NORTH EAST, PA - 50 year old William Fritchen of Grove City died after his rig pulling two trailers crashed into a bridge abutment on I-90 east of Erie and burst into flames. Fritchen was identified as the victim but because his body was so badly burned it may take days to confirm that.



Utility Worker Electrocuted Trying to Restore Power

April 10, ROCHELLE, IL - 57 year old Jeff Kissack, an employee for Rochelle Municipal Utilities, was electrocuted Sunday. He apparently came into contact with a live line while in the bucket of a utility vehicle located between the tracks on Second Avenue, near the overpass. Kissack’s coworkers began administering CPR as soon as they realized the severity of his injuries and continued until fire department personnel arrived. Kissack was working with crews to re-establish power to areas of town that were hit by a power outage earlier that morning.



Worker Dies When Forklift Overturns

April 10, SHREVEPORT, LA - 28 year old James Gillis of Mansfield died at the Pratt Industries recycling plant in Shreveport Sunday. Caddo Parish sheriff's deputies say Gillis was moving bales of paper with a forklift Sunday when the load became top heavy and caused the forklift to overturn. Deputies say Gillis jumped off the forklift but it fell on top of him.


Employee Dies in Forklift Incident

April 10, FARMINGTON, NM - 61 year old Jerry Keown, a 9 year employee for Walmart, was found hanging upside down from a forklift pallet in the store's warehouse. Keown was hanging by both feet from a pallet attached to the forklift along the top shelf of the store's warehouse shelves. It is unclear how long he was there but when discovered by another employee he was rescued and transported to a hospital where he died. "Some unknown event occurred as he was stocking from the pallet," police said. "It does not appear any safety type of equipment was used to be working at that height." An investigation continues to see what caused the incident.



Man Dies From Fall From Bridge

April 10, SEDGWICK, ME - 29 year old Ercio Gasques of Pennsylvania died after falling from the Deer Isle-Sedwick Bridge on Sunday. Gasques was working for Odyssey Contracting, a company from Houston, Pa., that had been hired to repaint the suspension bridge. “Gasques suffered massive head trauma from the fall and died from his injuries while en route to the hospital,” Lt. Tim Cote of the Sheriff’s Department wrote in the release.


Maine Lobster Fisherman Believed Drowned

April 10, ROCKLAND, ME - 38 year old David Mahonen of South Thomaston is believed to have drowned near Jeffrey Bank 45 miles south of Rockland. Mahonen was fishing from his vessel, Timothy Michael out of Newport, R.I., when he became tangled in the lead line and was pulled overboard. He was able to cut himself out of the line and rescuers threw him a life ring but for some reason he let go of it and sank under the waves. Coast Guard search crews were searching the Jeffrey Bank area Sunday but battling high seas but they would continue to search into Monday if necessary.


Experienced Driller Killed in Tragic Incident

April 10, GAINESVILLE, FL - 52 year old Johnn Clyde Smith an experienced well driller died late Saturday after a sinkhole opened beneath him and his truck fell in on top of him. "It looks like he already had some well pipe in the ground when the sinkhole opened up beneath him and he fell in," Maj. Smith said. "Then the truck fell in on top of him and caved in the sides, which covered him in about five feet of dirt." The inncident occurred on privately owned property behind Lancaster Correctional Institution sometime Saturday and was discovered by Johnn Smith's partner around 11:30 p.m.



Driver Killed in Double Semi Crash

April 9, EAU CLAIR, WI - 48 year old Jeffrey D. Moore of Mooresville, IN died Saturday in a tractor trailer accident on I-94 in Eau Claire County. The accident involved another tractor trailer rig.



Stored Fireworks Explode, Killing Five

April 8, HONOLULU, HI - An explosion occurred in Waikele about 9 a.m. Friday inside a World War II-era bunker, where confiscated fireworks had been stored. The explosion killed five men working for Donaldson Enterprises. A sixth person was also injured but the five who died are listed as 29 year old Justin Kelii, 50 year old Robert Leahey, 24 year old Kevin Freeman, 24 year old Neil Sprankle and 25 year old Bryan Cabalce. The fireworks were stored in an old munitions caves that go into the side of the mountain. The pressure from the explosion blew out the front of the cave.



Two Young Employees Gunned Down by Co-Worker

April 8, BROOKLYN PARK, MN - 21 year old Michael M. Habte and 20 year old Abigail Fedeli were shot to death inside the Festival Food store they worked for on Friday. A gunman stormed into the employee break room Friday evening, apparently fueled by jealously, shooting two fellow employees. The gunman fled the scene and was later tracked by police in Minneapolis. The man then turned the gun on himself. The police are still investigating.



Roofer Falls to His Death

April 8, LEXINGTON, KY - 56 year old David Powell died from injuries sustained in a fall at Illinois Wesleyan. The coroner says Powell was working for Union Roofing and was finishing a project at the Shirk Center April 1, 2011 when he fell approximately eight feet. The Coroner's office and OSHA are investigating.



Realtor Shot to Death Showing Home

April 8, WEST DES MOINES, IA - 27 year old Ashley Marie Okland died after being shot at a model townhouse in West Des Moines. According to a police statement, Okland of died at a hospital after sustaining two gunshot wounds around 2 p.m. at the home. Police believe it was an isolated incident however, asked other agents to shut down operations until more is known about the shooting.



Convenience Store Owner Found Dead After Fire

April 8, BLADENSBURG, MD - 69 year old Richard Changsun Nam of Mitchellville was found dead inside his convenience store that was burning. Police are investigating the incident as an arson. Nam's body did show signs of trauma and was found separate from the fire.



Restaurant Owner Killed in Robbery Attempt

April 8, OAKLAND, CA - Jesus Campos was opening his Otaez Restaurant for business Friday morning when he was shot and killed in a botched robbery attempt. Campos, known to friends as Chuey, was popular and the community is outraged and calling for action. "This is one of those crimes that cannot go unsolved otherwise it will be another merchant it will be more people," Oakland City Councilman Ignacio de la Fuente said.




Tanker Explosion Causes Worker's Death

April 8, SAVANNAH, GA - 24 year old Craig Reilly died Friday at an incident at Colonial Oil Industries. Reilly was killed and at least two more injured after a tanker truck burst into flames on Savannah's west side. The tanker truck was being filled with a chemical solvent used in gas when something sparked, causing it to catch fire.






Driver Survives Semi Crash, Then Hit and Killed by Car

April 8, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - 36 year old Lucas Joseph Folino was killed when he was struck by a car after getting out of his truck cab. His truck hit the back of another tractor-trailer and jackknifed into the median, the Florida Highway Patrol said. He then tried to cross the highway on foot in the predawn darkness when he was hit by a northbound car and died at the scene, investigators said.


Senior Prison Officer Dies During Training

April 7, LEAVENWORTH, KS - 38 year old Sr. Officer Christopher Cooper suffered a fatal heart attack while participating in a training exercise at Leavenworth Prison. He was running an obstacle course with other members of the Special Operations Response Team when he collapsed. Other officers came to help Cooper but were unable to resuscitate him.


Industrial Accident Causes Worker Death

April 7, HONOLULU, HI - 73 year old Alberto Somera suffered blunt force head trauma and died Thursday. Somera was working at Moo’s Machine Works when he was apparently “hit in the head by an aerial boom,” said Jennifer Shishido, administrator of the Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division. Moo's does repair and maintenance on industrial equipment.


Woman Dies in Recycling Plant Accident

April 7, RENTON, WA - 25 year old Sharon Silva was killed in an industrial accident at Smurfit-Stone Recycling Thursday. She was suffocated and trapped by plastic debris in a machine, the King County Medical Examiner's Office said Tuesday. The first responders shut off the machine and the power, and extracted Silva from the equipment. She died at the scene.


Fisherman Presumed Dead After Vessel Found Empty

April 7, PHIPPSBURG, ME - A boat belonging to Richard Lemont was found empty Thursday and a search began of the Kennebec River for Lemont, believed to have fallen off his fishing boat near Georgetown Island. He was last seen about about noon Thursday. A Maine Marine Patrol aircrew spotted the empty boat and called for searchers. The search was called off just after noon on Friday.



Chicago Stunned by Death of Police Officer

April 4, CHICAGO, IL - 42 year old Kevin M. Robinson died Monday after a month long hospitalization. Early last month Robinson, 15-year Chicago police veteran, was hospitalized after they say he accidentally inhaled a cleaning substance at the Morgan Park Police District station. His lungs all but shut down, forcing doctors at Advocate Trinity Hospital to place Robinson in a medically induced coma until he died Monday, his family said. An autopsy was performed, but the cause of death won't be known for several weeks, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.




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Building Collapse Traps and Kills Two Workers

April 7, LAKE PLACID, FL - 34 year old Jon Martinez and Jason Steel, both employees of United Fire Protection in St. Petersburg, were killed when a 300,000-gallon water tank burst and caused the building the two men were inside to collapse, the Highlands County Sheriff's Office said. The men were inside the building working on a pump designed to fill the tank. The tank was adjacent to the building, said sheriff's spokeswoman Nell Hays. Investigators don't know how much water was in the tank when it burst. They also don't know what caused it to burst, Hays said.



Firefighter Dies in Crash Responding to Call

April 7, WHITE OAK, NC - 23 year old David Hunsinger Jr. was responding to a call and on his way to the fire station in his Mazda 3 when he lost control of the vehicle, went off the road to the right and then over-corrected, turning into oncoming traffic, troopers said. It wasn't clear why he lost control of the vehicle. Hunsinger was a volunteer firefighter for White Oak Fire Department and the son of the chief.




Fiery Wreck Kills Driver of Gas Tanker

April 7, SAVANNAH, GA - 29 year old David Allen McGrath, possibly from Savannah, was killed when the tanker truck he was driving slammed into the rear of a double-deck car-carrier in the lane ahead of him. The gas tanker was so far into the back of the car-carrier that it's front wheels were off the ground. The driver of the car carrier managed to navigate both vehicles to the side of the road before escaping a massive explosion and fire that engulfed both trucks. Unfortunately McGrath was trapped in his truck and died. It is unknown at this time what caused McGrath to crash into the car-carrier but there was no sign of him hitting his brakes before the crash.




Parking Enforcer Killed When Struck by Vehicle

April 7, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA - 21 year old Cory James Dyer, a parking enforcement contractor riding a motorized scooter, was killed Thursday when he was struck by an SUV. Dyer worked for Central Parking System, which contracts with the city to enforce parking at the Oceanfront. Dyer was making his way along Pacific Avenue when an SUV going the opposite direction struck him when the driver tried to turn left onto 18th Street, police said. Dyer was wearing a helmet but was knocked 10 to 15 feet from the collision site. He died at a local hospital.



Man Killed in Industrial Accident

April 6, CRAVEN, NC - 47 year old William Timothy Miller, Sr. from the Bridgeton area was killed in an excavator accident Wednesday, according to the Craven County Sheriff’s Office. “Apparently he was standing behind the excavator and he got between the back of the cab and track of the excavator. When the operator swung the shovel to dump dirt, he was pinched between the cab and the track,” Sgt. Mark Weaver said. Weaver said that Miller was just hanging out and wanted to learn how to operate the equipment.



Popular Teacher Collapses at School

April 6, ST. SAVIOUR, NJ - 40 year old Jim Holland collapsed at the Grainville School in St. Saviour and died of a suspected heart attack. Mr Holland was not in a lesson when he was taken ill. The popular Maths teacher had a pre-existing heart condition.



Department of Transportation Worker Hit and Killed

April 6, GREENVILLE, SC - 60 year old Noah Lark, an employee for SCDOT, was hit and killed Wednesday by a driver who had self medicated. He died of blunt force trauma. Lark was working on Laurens Road near the Interstate 85 overpass when a vehicle exited the interstate and struck him. The female driver has been arrested for Lark's death but says she took prescription medication minutes before hitting Lark and doesn't remember the incident.


Temporary Worker Killed When Hit by Semi Trailer

April 6, FREEHOLD, NJ - 21 year old Ivan Robles-Molina was killed when he was struck by a tractor-trailer while working for Freehold Carthage today. According to authorities, the driver did not see the victim and for reasons being investigated, Robles-Molina did not notice the truck backing up. Robles-Molina was a temporary employee for Freehold, being assigned to work by a temporary placement agency.



Medical Problem Preceded Semi Crash

April 6, SPRINGVILLE, NY - 53 year old David L. Lusk of Hillsboro, IL is believed to have suffered a medical issue that preceded his tractor-trailer crashing into a pond off West Main Street in Springville on Wednesday morning. The crash occurred near Clark Street when the eastbound tractor-trailer veered across the westbound lanes, jumped the curb, went down an embankment and into a pond, Sheriff's Sgt. Joseph Belden said.



Patrol Officer Dies in Rollover Crash

April 6, SAGINAW, MI - 43 year old Jeffrey Werda, a Michigan State Patrol Trooper, was killed early this morning on his way to back up other troopers. While on patrol in Birch Run Village, Werda put on his lights and sirens and told dispatchers he was heading to assist, westbound on Birch Run Road. Within minutes a passing motorist called 911 to report finding Werda’s patrol car, rolled several times, off the side of Birch Run Road. Werda had been thrown from the patrol car. He was transported to a hospital where he died of his injuries.



Barber Shop Owner Injured in Attack, Dies

April 5, BLOOMINGDALE, NJ - 79 year old Frank Halat of Pompton Lakes, owner of Frank's Barber Shop died Tuesday as a result of injuries he sustained in an alleged assault Friday. A customer found Halat facedown and unconscious with life-threatening injuries to his face and head. Halat was transported to the hospital, where he was listed in critical condition for the past several days.



Sanitation Worker Hit and Killed by Truck

April 5, BATON ROUGE, LA - 39 year old Kerien Dennis was killed in an incident Tuesday. He was clinging to the rear of the backward moving truck while giving the driver directions. At some point he fell off the truck's rear platform and got caught under a wheel. Dennis was an employee of Recycling Foundation of Baton Rouge.



Two Workers Die as Basin Wall Collapses

April 5, GATLINBURG, TN - 53 year old John D. Eslinger and 44 year old Donald A. Storey died Tuesday at the Gatlinburg Wastewater Treatment Facility. A basin wall at the facility collapsed spilling thousands of gallons of sewage that flowed into the Little Pigeon River. After 10 hours of searching, rescuers found the men under the wall that collapsed. The cause of the collapse is under investigation.



Sheriff's Deputy Killed

April 4, SIGOURNEY, IA - 38 year old Deputy Eric Stein of What Cheer was killed Monday after he and two other deputies approached a rural Keokuk County home. Officials said Monday afternoon three law enforcement officers approached the suspect's home in Hayesville and came under fire. Stein was hit. The man who killed Stein was also killed by authorities when they entered his house.



Woman Sounded Alarm Before Being Killed

April 4, DENVER, CO - 71 year old Norma Stewart, an employee for Edward Jones Investments was known for getting to work early. Monday morning was no different. Police received an alarm activation at the company office and when they arrived they found her dead of a gunshot wound to her head in the office doorway. Her former husband has been arrested in connection with her murder.



Public Safety Official Dies in Airport Incident

April 4, AUSTIN, TX - 53 year old Howard Lee Lombard died in an accident while on duty at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. A Department of Public Service statement says Lombard died while working on a communications trailer at a Texas Department of Transportation flight services hangar. Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services spokesman Warren Hassinger says Lombard suffered a traumatic injury. Further details were not immediately released.


Business Owner Found Dead After Store Fire

April 4, CABOT, AR - KBC Pawn Shop owner Joe Pipkin was found dead after his store was consumed by fire. As fire crews were battling the blaze, firefighters found his body. Authorities are unsure of how Pipken died or what might have started the fire but arson investigators with the state police were brought in to investigate. UPDATE: Authorities are reporting that Pipkin was killed by gunshot before his business set afire in what they believe is a robbery.


Farmer Killed by Runaway Tractor

April 4, DAYVILLE, OR - 55 year old Michael Wayne Clark died Monday in an accident involving his farm tractor. An investigation shows that Clark put the tractor in low gear and proceeded to feed cattle out of the attached trailer. As it was moving along the pasture it came to a decline heading for a fence and ditch. It appears that Clark tried to move from the trailer to the cab of the moving tractor and was run over by a rear wheel of the tractor.



Baggage Handler Dies From Fall After Missing Step

April 3, WASHINGTON, DC - 48 year old Eduardo Tlatempa, a 20 yr experienced baggage handler who toppled from a lift while unloading a plane at Dulles International Airport on Friday died of his injuries at a local hospital Sunday. He was removing bags from the rear cargo hold of a United Boeing 777 Friday afternoon when he missed his step onto a scissor lift and fell 10 to 20 feet to the concrete, an airport spokesman said. A United spokesman said the airline is conducting a review of the accident.



Beloved Pastor Dies at Church

April 2, CAROL STREAM, IL - 68 year old Rev. Thomas Schuller, a priest at St. Luke's Catholic Church, died Saturday after years of complications due to diabetes. He was found unconscious in the church's rectory and died after arrival at a local hospital.





Plane Crash Kills Four

April 2, ROSWELL, NM - A crash of a test twin-engine luxury business aircraft at the Roswell International Air Center in New Mexico killed four Gulfstream employees Saturday. The employees were 64 year old Kent Crenshaw and 51 year old Vivian Ragusa, both test pilots and 47 year old David McCollum and 48 year old Reese Ollenburg, both technical specialists, all residents of Savannah, GA. All were killed when the test plane crashed on take off and caught fire. The team was conducting take-off performance tests.



Police Officer Killed in Gun Battle

April 2, CHATTANOOGA, TN - 51 year old Police Sgt. James Timothy Chapin was killed and another office injured in a shoot out with a Colorado fugitive who was robbing a money lending store. The suspect fired at police from the shop, then ran out a side door with police on foot and in cars in pursuit, authorities said. The running gunbattle continued for about 200 yards before the suspect was captured.


Worker Suffers Fatal Burns in Explosion

April 1, FONTANA, CA - 56 year old Placiodo Sandoval of Riverside died in an industrial accident at a recycling facility Friday. Employees were cutting up scrap iron. Sandoval was working with a torch when it came into contact with propane and oxygen, resulting in an explosion and flash fire, the Fire Department said. He was taken to was transported to Kaiser Permanente Medical Center where he died from 3rd degree burns.



Worker Shot to Death by Another Worker

April 1, AUGUSTA, GA - 37 year old Raymond V. Lee was shot and killed following an argument at a wastewater treatment plant on Stevens Creek Road. A contracted driver who hauled waste from other plants was arrested for shooting Lee. The suspect was about to put a ripped tarp on his truck when someone told him to replace it, and an argument started, said County Commission Chairman Ron Cross. After Lee told him to stop unloading, the suspect first tried to run over him with his truck but then got a gun. After a struggle, the suspect shot Lee.



Tow Truck Driver Hit and Killed Along Highway

March 31, REFUGIO, TX - 24 year old Christian Gutierrez was killed along Highway 77 this morning as he was trying to move a wrecked vehicle off the road. Gutierrez was hit by a UPS 18-wheeler as he stood on the side of the road. The truck driver did not realize he had hit anyone but charges are pending.





Plane Crash Kills Pilot and Business CEO

March 31, PIKEVILLE, KY - 50 year old David Brent Miller of Portland, IN and 70 year old David Carlton Cowherd of Dayton, OH died Thursday in a plane crash in Pikeville. Miller was the pilot who owned an aviation company. Cowherd was CEO of CBC Engineers & Associates in Ohio. NTSB and FAA officials were on site Thursday and are still trying to determine what caused the crash. According to a family member, it was not uncommon for Cowherd to fly for business and he was on his way to meet with some clients in Pikeville when the crash happened.



Worker Killed Trying to Protect Co-Worker

March 29, MINNEAPOLIS, MN - 23 year old Maxwell David Henson suffered a traumatic brain injury when he bounced two unruly patrons from his workplace, the Uptown branch of Drink, two weeks ago when he fell and hit his head on the concrete while escorting two men from the building after they attempted to assault one of his Drink Restaurant co-workers. He died on March 29, at Hennepin County Medical Center, six days after sustaining the injury.


Window Washer Electrocuted

March 29, HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA - an unidentified man was electrocuted and then caught fire while washing windows at a medical office building Tuesday. The man was working for a private contractor when he maneuvered an extension pole to get to a window and instead came into contact with a power line that killed him instantly.







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