Weekly Toll

Store Clerk Gunned Down in Robbery

May 26, PHILADELPHIA, PA - Mustafa Shaker was shot and killed by two gunmen who attempted to rob the Trak Foods store where he was working. According to surveillance video, when Shaker wouldn't open the register, one of the men who had a rifle shot Shaker in the head. Police are searching for the gunmen.


Recycling Center Worker Dies in Incident

May 26, MYRTLE BEACH, SC - 53 year old Stephen Breidinger of Conway died Thursday after a dumpster fell on top of him. According to police, as the dumpster was being unloaded, it fell on top of Breidinger, who was pinned. Breidinger was an employee of Waccamaw Metal Recycling.



Port Worker Dies in Fall

May 26, PORT MANATEE, FL - 53 year old Delvin Ray Roberts died while working at Port Manatee Thursday. Roberts, who was employed by Labor Ready, lost his footing and fell about 25 feet down a shaft between the load and the wall of the ship, according to a news release. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration was also investigating the death, according to the sheriff's office.



Officer Escorting Funeral Procession Dies in Collision

May 26, TORRENCE, CA - Officer Andrew Gaston of Hawthorne was killed while escorting a funeral procession for another officer who died of cancer. During the procession he collided with another motorcycle officer and was thrown into oncoming traffic in Torrance, authorities said. Gaston was transported to a local hospital where he died of his injuries.


Man Dies in Backhoe Incident

May 26, HARRISON TOWNSHIP, NJ - 81 year old John Welsh died after becoming pinned in a backhoe he was working with. According to West Licking Joint Fire District Battalion Chief Tom Bingham, Welsh was pinned between the boom and the stabilizer of the machine. An investigation continues.


Drunk Driver Causes Death of Toll Road Worker

May 25, HOUSTON, TX - 48 year old Sheila Lindsey, a longtime Sam Houston Toll Road employee, was killed when a drunk driver lost control of her vehicle. The driver's speeding car hit a barrier near a toll booth, sending the vehicle airborne before it struck Lindsey standing nearby. The drunk driver was arrested on an intoxication manslaughter charge.


Worker Killed at Cement Plant Had Just Returned After Layoff

May 25, WAMPUM, PA - 60 year old Donald Schlemmer of Ellwood City died Wednesday of head injuries due to a fall at the Cemex Wampum cement plant. Schlemmer had been inside the plant's railroad unloading building and stepped out onto the train car to assist with the unloading when he fell around 20 feet from the rail car. He was pronounced dead at the scene.



Man Electrocuted After Touching Charged Truck

May 25, WOOSTER, OH - 52 year old Thomas Otto of Lisbon was killed Wednesday when he was electrocuted on a job site. According to a sheriff's representative they crew were repairing some poles in the area. Otto was leaning against the bucket truck while standing on the ground and the boom up above made contact with the electric lines and knocked him unconscious. Otto was working as a foreman/supervisor for Thompson Electric.



Bridge Worker Dies After Being Struck in Head

May 24, KNOXVILLE, TN - 50 year old Solin Estrada Jimenez of Chattanooga was killed while working on a barge under the Henley Bridge Tuesday. According to police, Jimenez was on a barge under the bridge when a rock was knocked loose from a support beam and it hit Jimenez in the head as it fell. Work on the project has been suspended until a review of safety procedures and an investigation are complete.


Construction Worker Dies in Fall

May 24, BETTENDORF, IA - 37 year old William Mangrum of Mayfield, KY died from injuries after falling 26 feet from a roof. Police say he was stretching rubber sheeting across the roof of the Muslim Community Center of the Quad Cities when he fell. Mangrum was employed by Klapp Roofing out of Mayfield, KY.



Experienced Diver Drowns of Unknown Reasons

May 24, HONOLULU, HI - Jeff Barbieto participated in hundreds of rescues and helped save plenty of lives in his career. He was an expert in ocean safety which is why it's so hard for his loved ones to believe he's gone. On Tuesday he was maintaining cages for his employer Hukilau Foods, about 120 feet deep with three other divers. The medical examiner says Barbieto drowned but he did not have an air embolism more commonly known as the bends. He was bit on the hand by an eel but its unknown if that played any factor.


Young Worker Dies of Crushing Injuries

May 24, THE WOODLANDS, TX - 23 year old Dustin White of Shepard died Tuesday after an 18 wheeler backed into him, pinning him against a loading dock wall. White was helping unload a truck at the business he worked at and when the driver went back to the truck, it appears he attempted to repair a bumper pad. At that time the truck rolled back and pinned him against the wall. The driver of the truck did not know White was still behind him.



Storm Causes Death of Father of Two

May 24, NORFOLK, VA - 30 year old Walter Amos died in a storm related accident Tuesday. A civilian contractor at the Norfork Naval Shipyard was killed when a gust of wind pushed a crane into a temporary building on a pier, pinning him between two buildings. The storm occurred so suddenly that workers had virtually no time to prepare for it, the yard's acting commander said Wednesday. The brakes on the crane were locked but could not stand in the 80+ MPH winds.


Freight Train Crash Kills Two

May 24, UNION COUNTY, NC - 36 year old Greg Hadden of Greenwood, SC and 33 year old Phillip Crawford Jr. of Abbeville, SC were killed in a CSX freight train crash that crumpled train cars. The incident happened when one train traveling east through the Union County town of Mineral Springs struck another from behind. The crash sparked a fire that last most of the day.


Worker Dies at Steel Plant

May 23, MEMPHIS, TN - 43 year old Jerry Buford was killed at an incident at Nucor Steel mill Tuesday. Police report that Buford was operating mobile equipment and somehow became pinned between a forklift and pallet of steel in an inventory yard of the plant. OSHA is investigating.



Firefighter Dies During Training Exercise

May 23, CAMBRIDGE, MN - 35 year old Chip Imker, a volunteer firefighter of 18 months, died after falling during a training exercise. Imker was participating in rope rescue techniques and fell about six to eight feet onto a concrete surface around. According to a city representative, Imker was putting his foot in a looped rope that got twisted, and the rope spread under his weight, came loose, and he fell.


Man Electrocuted While Trimming Trees

May 23, MADISON, MI - 46 year old Michael Augustino of Blissfield, owner of a tree trimming business with over 20 years of experience, was electrocuted while trimming trees. Blissfield was in the top of a tree on Park Street when a small limb of the tree touched a power line, police said. Power company worker had to shut off the electricity in the area in order to bring Augustino down from the tree.


Tractor Trailer Driver Dies in Fiery Wreck

May 23, DUBOIS, PA - 55 year old David Wert Sr. of Montrose was killed when his semi struck a disabled semi ahead of him. The disabled truck had lost all power and was stopped partially on the roadway without any lights on. Wert failed to see the truck until it was too late and slammed into it. The fuel tank erupted in fire and rescuers were not able to get to Wert in time. He died at the scene.


Another Worker Electrocuted Trimming Trees

May 23, NASHVILLE, TN - 45 year old Russell Culver of Old Hickory was electrocuted while trimming trees in Bellevue on Monday evening. According to authorities, Culver was tied to a tree on Newsome Station Road when a metal clip from his gear came into contact with the power line. He was transported to a local hospital where he died.


Field Worker Dies of Crushing Injuries

May 23, ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, MI - 61 year old Gregorio Rojas died when a 400-gallon water tank fall on him on Friday. Rojas was working in a blueberry field on Jonson Street in Ottawa County when the wooden platform collapsed above him. There is no word on what caused the water tank to fall or how much water fell on Rojas.



Tire Service Employee Dies in Parking Lot Crash

May 23, LEBANON, PA - 68 year old Harold C. Smith was killed Monday morning when the pickup he was driving crashed into a parked trailer in a fenced lot behind the Henise Tire Service. Smith lost control of a company truck for unknown reasons in the rear lot and died on impact, said North Cornwall Township police Lt. Michael Conz.


Worker Dies During Surgery After Construction Incident

May 23, OAKLAND, PA - 60 year old Saverio Prati of Shaler died after a skid steer ran over his leg at a construction site Monday. He was taken to a local hospital where he died during emergency surgery on his injuries. OSHA is investigating.


Two Workers Dies of Toxic Fumes Exposure

May 22, PLAQUEMINE, LA - Tommy Rivet of White Castle and Tory Sanchez of Napoleonville died after being overcome by toxic fumes at the Shintech facility Sunday. Few details of the incident are available but Rivet, a Shintech employee, and Sanchez, a contract worker with Performance Contractors Inc., died in a vessel in a process unit that was not operational, according to the company.


Escorting Officer Killed on Duty

May 21, TUSCALOOSA, AL - Officer Trevor Scott Phillips was killed when a car turned into his motorcycle while escorting a funeral procession. Phillips was working the procession when a driver of a vehicle apparently decided they didn't to be part of the procession and attempted to make a U-turn, right into Officer Phillips' motorcycle.


Passenger in Tractor Trailer Dies in Crash

May 21, ST. LOUIS, MO - 44 year old Anthony Butler of Memphis, TN died when the semi he was riding in went off the road and crashed. The rig ran into two other tractor trailers that were parked at a rest area. The driver of the semi and the other drivers were treated and released. Butler was not wearing a seat belt.


Food Plant Worker Dies of Injuries

May 21, TOPEKA, KS - 64 year old Tom Wunder, injured at the Del Monte Foods plant Friday, died Saturday of his injuries at a local hospital. No details of exact cause of death is given. He was a Del Monte warehouse coordinator and had worked at the company for 33 years.



Utility Worker Electrocuted

May 21, CANAL FULTON, OH - 53 year old Ray Houle, a utility worker for Ohio Edison, died Saturday morning after he was electrocuted while working on an underground power line. Houle was working in a hole on Tell Drive when he was electrocuted, said Harry Campbell, chief investigator with the Stark County Coroner’s Office.


State Trooper Dies in Crash

May 21, LAUREL, MD - Trooper First Class Shaft S. Hunter was killed in an accident when his cruiser slammed into the back of a tractor trailer that was stopped along the roadway. It appears Hunter may have been in pursuit of a speeding motorcyclist but that has not yet been confirmed.



Second Worker Injured in Flash Fire Dies

May 21, LEBANON, TN - 32 year old Vernon Wayne Corley has died of injuries he sustained January 31, 2010 in a flash fire. Corley and another worker, Wiley Sherburne, who were maintenance mechanics for Hoeganaes Corp., were fixing a broken bucket elevator when flammable metal dust that had collected at the site ignited, engulfing the workers in flames, according to findings recently released by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board. Sherburne died two days after the incident.


Landscaper Killed in Robbery

May 20, CHICAGO, IL - 21 year old Heriberto Barajas was killed in an apparent robbery in a neighborhood he was working in. He was working to level soil in a homeowner's yard when he was attacked by four men. A neighbor heard gunshots, looked out the window and say Barajas collapse by a tree in her yard. She called police who are investigating.



Employee Injured Weeks Ago Has Died

May 20, MONTGOMERY, AL - 82 year old Ralph Hines has died of injuries he received in a fall. Hines, an employee for the Dillard's department store at the Eastdale Mall was injured weeks ago after falling from a ladder. He fell 8 to 10 feet while changing light bulbs in the store. An investigation is under way by Federal OSHA.


Industrial Incident at Lowe's Proves Fatal

May 20, ENTERPRISE, AL - 42 year old Stephen Dennis Brown of Ozark was killed in an incident at Lowe's Friday. When police arrived at the store they found Brown had been pinned between a delivery truck and a stationary trailer. Brown was flown by medical helicopter to Southeast Alabama Medical Center where he later died from his injuries. His death is being investigated.


Police Officer Dies After Becoming Ill While Working

May 20, CHICAGO, IL - 46 year old Paul Nauden, a narcotics officer died this morning, a day after he was taken to a hospital complaining of chest pains while on duty, officials said. The officer was on patrol when he began feeling ill. Nauden was a 21 year veteran of the Chicago Police Narcotics Division.



Injured Walmart Employee Dies

May 20, WILSON, NC - 71 year old Rochelle Pender, a Walmart Greeter, was injured May 18 when someone ran knocked her down while she was working. According to police, a young man was attempting to steal from the store and when a loss prevention employee ran after the man, someone collided with Pender. She was transported to the hospital and died two days later of her injuries. The thief has been arrested and an investigation continues.


Two Businessmen Die in Plane Crash

May 18, ROCK SPRINGS, WY - 55 year old Gilmer Mickey and 55 year old Bob Albert, both of Farmington, NM were killed when the plane, piloted by Mickey, crashed en route to Colorado. Mickey was president of Essco Pipe and Supply in Farmington and Albert worked for Mickey as a water quality consultant. The flight was a planned business trip. Mickey also co-owns Pinedale Natural Gas, the community's gas utility, Vernetta Mickey said.


Worker Killed in Forklift Incident

May 19, LAFAYETTE, IN - 28 year old Kyle Rhodes, an employee of Fairfield Manufacturing Plant, was killed in an incident involving a forklift Thursday. Rhodes was working on a rear unloading dock when he was pinned between a forklift and a trailer. He was pronounced dead at the scene.


Pizza Restaurant Owner Shot Dead in Front of Family

May 19, RALEIGH, NC - 36 year old Jay Waheed Ammeri was shot and killed inside his NY Pizza and Pasta restaurant Thursday night. According to police, the suspect who has been arrested, walked into the restaurant and asked who the owner was then proceeded to shot Ammeri in front of his family and father as well as employees and patrons. The gunman was arrested a short time later at his home.


Stage Hand Dies of Fall Injuries

May 19, KANSAS CITY, MO - 61 year old Lon Muncrief, who was injured in a fall has died of his injuries. Muncrief fell nearly 50 feet on May 13 while putting up equipment on the Rockfest Stage at Liberty Memorial. Muncrief was a member of Local 31, a union for stage hands, and suffered significant injuries from the fall. Organizers on the scene said there appeared to be no equipment collapse, but there was an ongoing investigation.


School Security Guard Dies After Scuffle With Student

May 19, RENO, NV - 63 year old Daniel Hundson died Thursday after a scuffle with a drunk student. Hundson was employed by Sierra Nevada Job Corp. It is believed Hundson may have suffered a heart attack after the fight. The student has been arrested and charged with Hundson's death.



Convenience Store Owner Shot to Death

May 19, ROCKY MOUNT, NC - 47 year old Abdul Karim Alwarrak, owner of Karim Food Mart, was shot and killed early Thursday in what police and neighbors say was an apparent robbery. A customer entered the store about 1:00AM and found Alwarrak suffering a gunshot wound and unresponsive on the floor. Police were called and an investigation continues.


Farmer Found Dead

May 19, FERGUS FALLS, MN - 61 year old Robert Piekarski was found dead on his farm tractor Thursday. Piekarski was out seeding a field at the time of his death, according to law enforcement. No foul play is suspected.


Two Truck Drivers Die in Single Vehicle Accident

May 15, GAFFNEY, SC - 54 year old Steven T. Woods Sr. of Athens, GA and 54 year old Gregory Lockhart of Buford, GA died when their tractor trailer crashed into a bridge support in Cherokee County. Coroner Dennis Fowler says Woods, who was driving, apparently fell asleep and was thrown from the truck. Lockhart, the other driver, died in the sleeper section of the cab.


Winery Owner Killed in Plane Crash

May 15, MINDEN, NV - 78 year old Robert H. "Budge" Brown, a resident of Gardnerville, NV, was killed in a plane crash while in route to another of his wineries in Tracy. An experienced pilot, Brown took off from the Minden-Tahoe Airport but the plane disappeared from radar over heavily wooded, mountainous terrain covered with several feet of snow. Brown founded Tulip Hill Winery in Nice in 2003, owns a 20-acre Pope Valley vineyard and also owns a 330-acre vineyard in Tracy.


Grove Worker Found Dead Among Trees

May 18, HAINES CITY, FL - 45 year old Tommy Mullins, a contracted employee working at Rubush Groves was found dead Wednesday. He was picking oranges using a ladder when another worker found him lying on the ground. Mullins had no visual injuries that would immediately suggest how he died, deputies said.


Employee Found Dead Inside Business

May 18, ST. LOUIS, MO - 71 year old Dave Post was found dead behind a locked door after he didn't come home from work Wednesday. Police were summoned by a co-worker, who was also a relative, when his car was found outside of the auto restoration business. When the co-worker kicked open a door they found locked, Post's body was near an elevator used to move vehicles. He was reportedly shot in the head.



Worker Crushed Under Piece of Equipment

May 18, ST. JOSEPH, MO - 40 year old Robert V. Montgomery died Wednesday in an industrial incident at Herzog rail car repair facility. Buchanan County Undersheriff Lt. Col. Bill Puett said Montgomery was “working on a piece of a railcar and there was an accident where a piece fell and killed him.” OSHA is investigating.


Firefighter Dies of Heart Attack

May 18, BALDWIN, NY - 43 year old Michael Esposito, a 21 year veteran of the Baldwin Fire Dept, died of an apparent heart attack at the scene of a house fire on Grand Avenue Wednesday. He was transported to a local hospital where he died.


Cab Driver Dies on Gunshot Wound

May 18, EVANSTON, IL - 50 year old Leodis Blackburn, who was found shot in the head Sunday and in critical condition since, has died of those injuries Wednesday. Evanston police responded to a cab that struck a parked vehicle in the 500 block of Elmwood Avenue. Officers determined the cab driver was shot in the head, police said. Circumstances surrounding the shooting are not known at this time.


Two City Workers Dead in Trench Collapse

May 17, LAS VEGAS, NM - 49 year old Frank Romero and 32 year old Gene Hern died when they were buried in a trench collapse Tuesday. The men were installing sewer and water lines in the 8 to 10 foot deep trench. City spokesperson Dave Romero says other workers frantically tried to dig the men out but didn't make it to them in time. Crews were able to partially dig out their bodies but Hern and Romero were pronounced dead on scene by medical officials. Both men were employed by the city of Las Vegas (NM).



Five Die When Overloaded Skiff Sinks

May 17, ANCHORAGE, AK - Five men have died when their overloaded skiff went down in rough waters near Cook Inlet. A group of six men, working for Pacific Alaska Shellfish, spent the day digging for razor clams. One man decided to walk back to camp and when the boat wasn't there when he arrived, a search started for the skiff. The body of one worker was discovered and then the others were recovered after a search. Following are the men who lost their lives:
42 year old Roberto Ramirez, unknown town and state
34 year old Jose A. Sandoval of Bakersfield, CA
36 year old Avelino Garcia of Oregon
24 year old Jose Revera of Los Angeles, CA
31 year old Ramon Valdiva of Oregon


Tree Trimmer Dies in Fall

May 16, LANCASTER, PA - 40 year old Alan Price of York died from injuries he suffered in a fall from a cherry-picker in central Pennsylvania. Police say Price was working in the truck's bucket, about 50 feet up, when a pivot on the bucket broke and he fell to the ground.


Delivery Driver Struck and Killed by Truck

May 14, ANGEL'S CAMP, CA - 73 year old Sergei M. Kitchuck of Burson was killed when his box truck containing 10,000 pounds of ice cream rolled into him at the Calavaras County Fairgrounds. The CHP said witnesses reported that Kitchuck had parked the box truck on a slight incline at the fairgrounds and that he had just exited the truck and was entering a pickup when the box truck began rolling. Kitchuck tried to run back around the front of the box truck but stumbled and fell.








Print this post

Man Dies When Run Over by Farm Tractor

May 17, GIRARD, PA - 82 year old Burdette Sedler was planting trees on his property when the farm tractor he was using rolled into and over him today. The tractor was parked nearby with the engine off but apparently the brake didn't hold and the tractor rolled into Sedler.



Security Guard Found Murdered

May 16, SARASOTA, FL - 26 year old Matthew Little of Brandon was shot and killed by an unknown assailant while on foot patrol at the Mariners Pointe Apartment on Pinellas Point Drive, in south St. Petersburg. Authorities say he was shot at least once above his vest and was found dead between two parked cars near the complex pool and tennis court. Little was training to become a full time police officer and was engaged to be married.



Man Dies When Hit in Head by Tire Rim

May 16, HIGHLANDVILLE, MO - an unidentified man, an employee for Stutesman Auto Salvage, was killed Monday when a split rim from a wheel struck him as he was inflating a tire on an industrial tractor. The rim broke apart from the tire, striking him in the head, causing severe brain trauma.




Carnival Worker Dies in Fall

May 16, GREENSBORO, NC - 42 year old Michael Douglas Cook of Columbus, GA died and another seriously injured while dismantling a Greensboro Youth Council carnival ride. Investigators said workers were in the process of disassembling the rides when two of the workers on the Ferris wheel fell. Investigators said the men where in bucket-style lifts when a cable broke, causing a pendulum motion and eventually the men fell. They were in individual buckets that were in different locations. The carnival rides are provided by the James H. Drew Exposition, based in Atlanta.


Fall Through Roof Kills Worker

May 17, BUTLER, IN - 27 year old David Gingrey of Garrett fell five stories to his death at Iron Dynamics after falling through a soft spot in the facility's roof. Gingrey was with three other workers cleaning soot from the roof at Iron Dynamics, a Steel Dynamics corporation, when the incident took place. All four men on the roof were wearing a harness and lanyard hooked up to a safety cable called a rat line, however, when Gingery fell, the cable snapped.



Flagman Struck and Killed by Vehicle

May 16, HATCH, NM - 51 year old Jose F. Cabrel-Carranza of Hatch, was killed Monday while working on a road project on Interstate 25. While traffic was being diverted away from a section of the road being paved, the driver of a commercial truck struck the back of a construction truck that had stopped briefly. The impact propelled the construction truck forward, hitting Cabrel-Carranza, who was a flagman working on the project.



One Killed in Ammunition Explosion and Fire

May 16, NASHVILLE, TN - an unidentified person is dead, another missing and a third injured after an explosion and subsequent fire at the Well Done Bullet ammunition's store Monday. Because of the nature of the business, other businesses in the complex were evacuated. It is not clear what caused the explosion and fire. UPDATE: Authorities have identified the man killed as store owner 42 year old Kenedy Rojas.



Welding Fire Kills Worker

May 16, ARTESIA, NM - 29 year old Jose Perez Moreno lll, a contract worker cutting metal in an airport hanger apparently ignited flammable material and died in the resulting fire, the Artesia Police Department reported Monday. It is believed he died from the flames and smoke inhalation, but an autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.



City Worker Crushed Under Massive Machine

May 16, QUEENS, NY - 59 year old Errol L. Wilson was killed Monday when a co-worker accidentally backed over him with a giant truck, officials said. Wilson was crushed under the massive tires of a Mack Truck when the driver lost sight of Wilson in his mirrors. Wilson was behind the truck, directing the driver. The workers are repaving the Cross Island Parkway. Wilson was was a longtime veteran of the Dept. of Transportation's Roadway Repair and Maintenance Division.



Miner Killed in Surface Mine Incident

May 14, YOLYN, WV - 37 year old Richard L. Young died Saturday at Apogee Coal's Guyan Surface Mine. He was pinned beneath a piece of machinery. Apogee is a subsidiary of Patriot Coal. The Mine Safety and Health Administration says Young was crushed beneath a counterweight at the back of a loader. The incident is under investigation.


Worker Discovered Shot to Death

May 14, ST. LOUIS, MO - 28 year old Jeremiah House of House Springs was found shot to death Saturday morning at JW Auto Sales, police said. Police called the death a homicide. An employee of the dealership found House when she arrived to open the shop, said police. The front door was open, and House was on the floor.


Truck Driver Killed in Truck/Train Collision

May 13, MOUNT PROSPECT, IL - 59 year old Kazamierz Karasek was killed in a fiery crash with a Metra train Friday. Karasek died when he drove his semi truck around crossing gates truck in front of a speeding commuter train in Mount Prospect, sending 26 people to hospitals. Unable to translate a degree he earned in his native Poland into a career here, he started his own trucking firm, built it into a success, and got his citizenship about 20 years ago.


Shop Manager Shot to Death by Disgruntled Customer

May 13, COLUMBUS, OH - 60 year old Tamara "Tammy" Bohrer, office manager for Ohio Engine & Transmission, was fatally shot by a disgruntled female customer Friday. The ex-customer was apparently angry over not getting satisfaction for a case she brought against the shop 10 months ago. After shooting Bohrer she fired off several shots in the garage area, where no one was hurt, before walking across the street and killing herself.


Farmer Suffers Fatal Crushing Injuries

May 13, HENRY CLAY TOWNSHIP, PA - 71 year old Charles Burnsworth was killed in a farming accident Friday when the tailgate of a dump truck he was working on fell on him. Burnsworth was working with a 5-ton dump truck on his farm on Mae West Road when it appears he triggered the tailgate release, causing the heavy metal tailgate to fall on him and crush him. He was found by his wife who then called 911.


Road Worker Dies After Being Struck by Car

May 12, LINCOLN PARISH, LA - 31 year old Jeremy Walker of Winnsboro was struck and killed while working along a section of Interstate 20. An eastbound vehicle crossed the yellow line and struck Walker, who was working with a contracted crew to pick up trash along the Interstate. He was wearing the required safety gear when he was struck.


Man Killed After Being Hit by Falling Tree

May 12, OAK GROVE, MN - 35 year old David Alan Pollema of Bock was killed in an incident Thursday at a private property. He and another worker were hired by an Oak Grove property owner to cut down a tree. Pollema and the co-worker were attempting to remove a large section of the trunk of the tree when part of the tree kicked back and struck him, causing multiple injuries. He died a short time later at a local hospital.







Print this post

Tampa Electric Contractor Electrocuted

May 12, TAMPA, FL - 35 year old Jason R. Moore of Wesley Chapel died of electrocution Thursday in the Lake Magdalene area, authorities said. Moore was working in an elevated bucket when he touched a live transformer. Moore worked for Team Fishel, a utility contractor based in Columbus, Ohio, with an office in Plant City, a company official said.


Store Worker Shot Dead in Robbery Attempt

May 12, SAN ANTONIO, TX - 27 year old Aileen Harbridge was shot to death Thursday shortly after arriving at Ashley Furniture Store where she worked. Other employees who were arriving for work heard gunshots and called police. Arriving officers searched and cleared the building and are still investigating.



Border Patrol Agents Killed in Train Collision

May 12, GILA BEND, AZ - 39 year old Hector Clark and 34 year old Edward Rojas, both US Border Patrol Agents out of the Yuma sector, were killed when their SUV was hit by a freight train. Both agents were assisting in chasing a group of suspected illegal immigrants. The agents were traveling along a frontage road when the driver suddenly turned south onto a private crossing immediately in front of the fast-moving train, said Aaron Hunt, a Union Pacific Railroad spokesman.


Texas Police Chief Found Shot

May 12, LAJOYA, TX - 44 year old LaJoya Police Chief Jose Del Angel was shot to death Thursday night. LaJoya Police responded to a call about a man down at a vacant lot and found Angel shot to death inside his vehicle. Officials will await the autopsy results to determine if the wound to his upper body was self inflicted or the result of a homicide.



Rental Store Owner Shot to Death in Robbery Attempt

May 12, KANSAS CITY, MO - David Bledsoe, owner of Bledsoe Rentals, was shot to death inside his business Thursday. Two masked robbers burst into the store and demanded money. Bledsoe, who was sitting in a chair, was shot in the chest after telling the robbers "you're not going to shoot anybody". Bledsoe didn't die right away and actually took chase after them in his truck. He made it a few blocks when he got out of his truck and collapsed. He died enroute to the hospital.


Tractor Trailer Overturns, Killing Driver

May 12, CENTRAL, LA - 61 year old Harry Sherman of Albany was killed when the semi he was driving overturned on a busy roadway. Troopers say that Sherman took a curve at too high a rate of speed, causing the rig to tip over and slide off the roadway and into a private driveway. Sherman was not wearing a seat belt.


Man Working Under Vehicle Crushed

May 12, CARLSBAD, NM - 54 year old Marcos Hernandez Jr. was found dead Thursday by his supervisor. Hernandez was working under an SUV that was propped up by cinder blocks. Somehow the vehicle shifted and fell onto Hernandez, pinning him underneath. He was later found by his supervisor after he returned from lunch.



Man Dies of Asphyxiation in Grain Silo

May 11, UTICA, NY - 24 year old Craig Bernier of Mohawk died after falling into a grain silo at Point Mineral Products. Bernier was working on a ladder inside the silo, when the tether, the device attaching him to the ladder, came undone, causing him to fall. Emergency workers tried for hours to rescue Bernier from the silo located off of Wurz Ave, but by the time they got to him he had died from asphyxiation due to suffocation.



Man Dead After Clothing Becomes Entangled in Machine

May 11, BANGOR, MI - 58 year old Paris D. Prater of Bay City was working at Schmidt Industries, a company that manufactures turbine replacement parts when his clothing became entangled in a metal lathe. The report says that co-workers were able to get him out of the machine. He was rushed to Bay Regional Medical Center where he later died.



Single Vehicle Accident Kills Truck Driver

May 11, AUBURN, AL - 35 year old Antonio M. Taylor of Lizella, GA died after his 18-wheeler, which was traveling northbound on the interstate, left the roadway going into the tree line. Taylor was transported by ambulance to the East Alabama Medical Center with life–threatening injuries, where he died a short time later, Auburn police said.



Explosion at Lumber Mill Kills One, Injures Two

May 11, GASTON, OR - 60 year old Steve Allen of Forest Grove was killed and two others injured from an explosion at Stimson Lumber Company near Gaston. The men were dismantling a 6 foot long cylinder, called a hydraulic accumulator, exploded in the mill's maintenance shop. The men didn't realize the cylinder was pressurized, but the end of it blew off under high pressure.



Gasoline Tanker Driver Dies in Fiery Crash

May 11, CHARLOTTE, NC - 39 year old Jack Simmons of Jacksonville, FL died in an accident in North Carolina. Simmons was driving his gasoline tanker truck when he lost control and slammed into a concrete bridge support. Subsequently, the tanker exploded and he died in the flames.



Janitor Found Dead Inside School Library

May 11, NORTH FALMOUTH, MA - 42 year old Cornelius "Neal" Murphy of East Falmouth, a longtime custodian was found dead Wednesday in the library at the North Falmouth Elementary School. He was discovered when the daytime janitor arrived at work. Murphy appeared to have died from natural causes, according to Cape and Islands District Attorney Michael O’Keefe’s office.




Truck Driver Dies After Being Crushed by Spilled Load

May 10, DALLAS, TX - 40 year old Aaron Sipp of Granada, MS has died after being crushed under a load of pipe that spilled from his rig. Sipp stopped along U.S. 75 to inspect the load of pipes he was carrying. For some reason, several of the 2,100 pound pipes rolled off of the truck and onto his body. His legs were crushed by several of the fallen pipes. He was alive while rescuers worked frantically to free him but he later died at the hospital.




Tree-Cutting Accident Kills Worker

May 10, HUTCHINGSON, KS - 46 year old Joseph T. Fredrick was killed when a tree he was cutting with a chain saw fell on him. Fredrick was working to cut down trees for Ramsey Oil, his employer, when the tree fell in a way he apparently didn't anticipate and the trunk fell on his back and ended up on his shoulders. He was working alone at the time.



Man Dies After Being Pinned by Truck in DeWitt County Oil Field

May 10, YORKTOWN, TX - 30 year old Jose Gobea-Rodriguez died after being pinned between a water truck and metal tank. Gobea-Rodriguez appears to have positioned himself between the one-ton truck and the metal tank in the driver's blind spot as he backed the truck. Both Gobea-Rodriguez and the driver of the truck who hit him worked for D&B Rental, an oil field equipment rental company in Cuero.



Worker Dies After Being Struck in Head

May 10, HELENA, MT - 24 year old Keith J. Carlson died of head trauma after being struck in the head by the lid of a machine. Carlson was sandblasting floor grates outside a Helena business when the lid of the machine's tank became dislodged and struck him in the head. Carlson, an employee at the YESCO electric sign shop, was using rented equipment when the accident occurred.



Sheriff Deputy Killed by Fleeing Suspect

May 10, LEBANON, OH - 36 year old Officer Brian Dulle was killed when he was hit by a stolen vehicle at the intersection of U.S. 42 and Utica Road near Lebanon. Before reaching the stop sticks that Dulle was deploying, the vehicle went out of control, striking a culvert and going airborne and landing in a field. It's then that the driver struck Dulle.




Dump Truck Rolls Into River Killing Driver

May 9, IOWA CITY, IA - 53 year old Timothy Russell died after the truck he was driving crashed into the Iowa River south of Iowa City on Monday morning. First responders from the Iowa City and Hills fire departments brought rescue boats to the scene. Crews battled heavy rain and lightning until about 10AM. The incident is still under investigation, but it does not appear there were any other injuries. The State Medical Examiners Office will conduct an autopsy.


Box Truck Driver Killed in Rollover

May 9, PLYMOUTH, MA - 49 year old Christopher E. Richert of New Bedford died when the box delivery truck he was driving went off the roadway and overturned. He was employed with Green Pond Fish'n Gear. Richert's truck was traveling southbound when it left the roadway and entered the center median. The truck struck several trees, rolled over, and came to rest on the driver’s side. Richert was not wearing a seat belt.



Tractor Trailer Driver Dies in Truck/Train Collision

May 9, HAMMOND, LA - 57 year old Randall Choate of McComb, MS was killed when his truck was hit by a train. Choate was hauling live chickens when he crossed onto railroad tracks in front of an eastbound freight train. The accident happened on a private road near U.S. Highway 190 that leads to Sanderson Farms east of Hammond.



Emergency Medical Technician Dies in Ambulance Crash

May 9, FONTANA, CA - 23 year old Douglas L. Odgers of Rialto died when the ambulance he was riding in was involved in a crash on I-10. Odgers was in the back of the ambulance, unrestrained, when for unknown reasons the ambulance traveled in a northwesterly direction and collided with a wood/metal guardrail located north of the roadway edge of the freeway. The ambulance traveled out of control and subsequently struck a large freeway overhead sign support with its front side, the CHP said. Odgers sustained major trauma and was transported to San Antonio Community Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.


Worker Dies in Oil Rig Incident

May 9, WILLIAMS COUNTY, ND - 52 year old Joe Kronberg of Bison has died in an incident at the Nabors Rig 177 near Williston. Williams County Sheriff`s deputies responded to the call. Detective Amanda McNamee says Kronberg was not electrocuted, however no more information is being released at this time about the cause of death.



Worker Dies of Injuries in Forklift Accident

May 9, PONTIAC, IL - 52 year old Daniel. W. Lydigsen of Dwight died Monday of injuries he received in an incident April 13 when he apparently stepped in front of a forklift at Futures Unlimited, Pontiac. An employee of Midwest Fiber, who was driving toward his truck in the east driveway, said he didn’t see Lydigsen, police said.




Deli Employee Shot & Killed in Robbery

May 9, NEW HAVEN, CT - Bilal Tinawi was found shot to death when police responded to reports of gunfire at the Post Road Deli. According to reports, the gunman walked into the store with a shotgun and opened fire after robbing Tinawi. Police are reviewing surveillance video from the store and nearby businesses. They do not know the motive for the shooting, but have called Tinawi's death a homicide.


Worker Hit and Killed While on Break

May 9, MORRIS, IL - 27 year old Derek L. Posey was killed when a car struck a tractor Monday in Stratton Park. Posey was on break with two other workers at 11:54 a.m. while the three were working community service hours for the Department of Natural Resources. The workers were sitting in the bucket of the tractor when a motorist struck the tractor. The workers were ejected out of the bucket and Posey died instantly. The force of the collision forced the vehicle that struck the tractor into a state of Illinois work truck.



Trooper on Escort Duty Dies in Collision

May 7, NASHVILLE, TN - 36 year old State Trooper Andy Wall suffered a head injury and died when his motorcycle was hit by another motorist. Trooper Wall and another officer were escorting the U.S. Air Force Thunderbird pilots to the Smyrna Air Show. The accident remains under investigation and no further information is available for release at this time.


Worker Dies of Toxic Fumes Removing Old Equipment

May 7, PHOENIXVILLE, PA - 28 year old Wayne Edeline of Philadelphia died after being overcome by fumes from an old air conditioning system while working in a vacant building. It is believed he inhaled Freon gas while removing mechanical equipment and scrap material from the empty warehouse in Charlestown Township, Chester County. A preliminary investigation found the air conditioning system was still pressurized and several valves had been opened, allowing the gas to escape. Three other workers were also pulled from the building and were treated and released.


Worker Crushed in Press Machine

May 6, QUINTER, KS - 45 year old Michael Wente died after an incident at the Formation Plastics factory in Quinter. Wente was working on a press when he became entangled in the press. He was subsequently crushed by the machine. Wente was taken to Gove County Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.



Worker Dies Of Fall Injuries

May 5, ELKO, NV - 41 year old Carlos A. Islas died of injuries he suffered in a fall. According to police, on May 4 Islas fell about 30 feet through the roof of the former Redstone Supply commercial building on Mountain City Highway that is under refurbishment. He was transported to Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital and subsequently to Utah. He died the next day from injuries that included major head trauma.




Print this post

Bouncer Stabbed to Death in Bar

May 7, ORLANDO, FL - 25 year old Milton Torres, a bouncer at The Lodge bar, was stabbed early Saturday morning while working. He later died. A suspect in his death has been arrested and charged with Torres' murder.




Store Manager Gunned Down During Robbery

May 6, CHICAGO, IL - 57 year old Edward Jernigin was found dead Friday inside the Wahash Food and Liquors store he managed. He was found shot in the head inside a back room and the door to the store was locked. A source indicated a safe was open inside the office. Police were hoping surveillance video can shed some light on what happened.



Tow Truck Driver Killed Doing His Job

May 6, DALLAS, TX - 28 year old Jose Martinez a tow truck driver assistant who was doing his job, was shot and killed at a Dallas apartment complex early Friday morning. Martinez and another employee for Longhorn Wrecking were making their rounds when an irate tenant approached them from behind and began shooting. The driver of the tow truck was armed and shot the tenant, but not before the tenant shot and killed Martinez, who was a passenger in the tow truck.



Man Delivering Pizza on Bike is Struck and Killed

May 6, BROOKLYN, NY - 22 year old Luis Torres died after he was struck by a hit and run driver. Torres was on his bike delivering pies for Amnon Kosher Pizza when he was hit by a Budget box truck, police and family said. The driver of the truck attempted to flee but was apprehended a block away and is expected to be charged. Torres and his wife moved to Brooklyn from Ecuador two years ago to save money for their 2 year old daughter.



Road Construction Worker Killed While Operating Equipment

May 6, UNION, NJ - 33 year old Segundo Padilla of Newark was killed around 8 a.m. this morning in a work accident at Lenape Park in Union when a six-ton roller he was operating toppled down a shallow embankment. Padilla had smoothed over approximately 500 feet of trail off Springfield Road and into Lenape Park when the Ingersoll Rand roller he was operating apparently toppled off an edge. His body was discovered by fellow employees who notified Union County Police and the Kenilworth Fire Department, which assisted in the extrication.


Tanker Driver Killed When Hit by Truck

May 6, WINSTON-SALEM, NC - George Taylor of Kernersville was killed while delivery fuel to a local mini mart. Taylor was outside of his truck when it rolled back, hitting and running over him. Taylor died from injuries caused by the collision. He was from was an employee of Reliable Tank LLC.


Cemetery Worker Found Dead

May 5, SPOTSYLVANIA, VA - 27 year old Uriah Durham, a Laurel Hill Memorial Park employee, was killed while installing the foundation for a grave marker on Thursday. When rescuers arrived they found Durham beneath the bucket of a loader attached to a tractor. His death appears to be accidental but is being investigated as suspicious.



Transportation Worker Killed in Vehicle Crash

May 4, MOUNTAIN HOME, AR - 68 year old Vaughn Pierson died and another worker was injured when their company vehicle was hit from behind and overturned. Pierson was the passenger of the vehicle that was driving west on Arkansas Highway 88 at a low speed while painting lane markings on the highway. The work vehicle was hit from behind by another westbound vehicle, causing the work vehicle to overturn.


Truck Driver Dies of Crushing Injuries

May 4, DENVER, CO - 56 year old James Kemmerley was killed in an apparent industrial accident in Northeast Denver. Kemmerley was a contract truck driver for MTS Freight, working with Macy's. The exact cause and manner of death is under investigation.



Landscape Worker Killed by Trolley

May 4, SAN DIEGO, CA - 64 year old Stephen Palmer Sr., of the Jamul area of San Diego County, suffered head trauma when he was hit by a trolley. Palmer worked for the Caltrans Imperial Landscape Crew based in San Diego and was on the tracks when a trolley approached and the driver honked the horn to alert Palmer. Palmer was not able to move off the track in time and was hit.



Injured Worker Dies of Injuries

May 4, WINFIELD, KS - 47 year old Steve Wiggs died of injuries he received from a fall last month at the Newell Rubbermaid plant. He had been hospitalized in Wichita since falling from a ladder. Wiggs worked for Rubbermaid for over 14 years at the time of his death.



Worker Dies as Result of Electrical Fire

May 3, BRADDOCK HILLS, PA - 36 year old Gary Cottrell Jr. of Pittsburg died Tuesday in an apparent electrical fire at a vacant hotel in Braddock Hills. He was part of a crew doing maintenance at the hotel when something sparked the fire. Firefighters found Cottrell in a mechanical room. The cause of the blaze and exact cause of death are under investigation.



Worker Struck and Killed by Falling Object

May 3, ORLANDO, FL - 58 year old Tracy Irwin was struck and killed Tuesday while working on a Cirque de Soleil show. Irwin, a subcontractor for the show working at the Amway Arena, was struck with a metal scaffold, which fell from a forklift near the old arena's west loading dock around 10 a.m. Tuesday. She died of her injuries at a local hospital. The show's owners and OSHA are investigating.





Milk Tanker Overturns Killing Driver

May 3, BERGEN, NY - 76 year old Gerald Olin Jr. of Perry, who was driving a tanker truck carrying milk, was killed when the truck overturned on a curve. When the truck overturned, the cab was badly crushed. Olin was a contractor for Upstate Farms dairy, which is based in the Buffalo area.



Project Manager Dies From Fall at Construction Site

May 3, IOWA CITY, IA - 46 year old Terry Simmons died as the result of a fall at a construction site of the new federal courthouse building. Simmons was project manager for Ryan Companies. No one witnessed the accident, and it is unknown how far Simmons fell, according to Ryan Companies President Marc Gulliskson.



Store Clerks Shot to Death

May 5, DALLAS, TX - Eid Faltaous and Salah Zardeh was shot and killed by a homeless man who entered the King Market and argued with the owner. Police said the homeless man went inside the market in Oak Cliff and demanded money he said the owner owed him. He wounded the owner and killed Faltaous and Zardeh. He will still inside the store when the police arrived and surrendered to them.



Semi Driver Struck and Killed

May 3, GARY, IN - 60 year old Gregory A. Ingram of Decatur, AL was killed when he was struck by another driver when he was parked along Indiana I-80. Ingram had parked on the side of the highway and was about to get back into his truck when a pickup drifted over from the right lane and the passenger mirror scraped the side of the semi's box trailer. It then hit Ingram, who was thrown onto the pickup and then to the ground. Ingram died at a local hospital of head trauma.



Tractor Trailer Driver Dies Behind the Wheel

May 3, CHELAN, WA - 55 year old Dennis Roberts of Medical Lake died this morning as he was driving a semi north on Highway 97. The truck veered off the highway and into a field, coming to a stop with striking anything. When emergency crews arrived, they found Roberts dead in the driver's seat. His death is under investigation although a medical condition is suspected.



Police Officer Dies From Injuries in Scuffle

May 2, WARTBURG, TN - 58 year old Office Ralph Braden has died from injuries he sustained while trying to arrest a suspect on April 22. After the altercation, which caused a shoulder injury, he was transported to the hospital and released later to his home. A few hours later his wife found him unresponsive. He was taken back to the hospital where he remained on life support until his death Monday.



Incident at Gas Well Site Claims Man's Life

May 1, CHENANGO, NY - 23 year old Charles Bevins of Buckhannon, WV died while working on a gas well drilling site. Bevins was directing the driver of a forklift, who was moving some steps into place to allow access to a trailer. The forklift rolled into a rut, and pinned Bevins against the trailer. Bevins was taken to Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, where he died during surgery. His employer, Braden Drilling, is a contractor for Norse Energy.



Officer Shot and Killed

May 1, PHOENIX, AZ - Officer Rolando Tirado was shot and killed and another officer was injured Sunday morning. Both were Buckeye Police Officers but were working off-duty for El Gran Mercado. The officers contacted three male occupants of a vehicle that was driven recklessly on the property and that’s when an altercation with the occupants turned into a gun battle, said police. Tirado was killed in the shootout.



Woman Murdered at Work by Ex Husband

April 30, ELKO, NV - 42 year old Mary Inman was shot to death in the front area of Smith Power Products while she was working. A co-worker heard a loud noise coming from the front of the shop and when he went to investigate, he found Inman had been shot and killed. Inman's ex-husband had previously threatened her. After killing her he drove to Las Vegas and shot himself in a local motel.


Chemist Dies in Explosion and Fire in Laboratory

April 30, ABERDEEN, MD - Dr. Nanaj Bhamare, an organic chemist with the HEAT Center, died in an explosion and fire at a laboratory at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. Officials at Aberdeen Proving Ground have still not provided details about the accident except to say that Dr. Bhamare died the afternoon of April 30 in an explosion and subsequent fire at the laboratory. The incident is still under investigation.


Shop Owner Crushed Under Truck

April 30, MILLADORE, WI - 47 year old James G. Zellner was killed when a truck he was working on fell on him. Zellner, who owned Zellner Tire Service, was working on a utility truck when it fell off a hydraulic jack, pinning him under its rear portion, according to a news release from the Wood County Sheriff’s Department. He was transported to a local hospital where he died of severe lower extremity trauma.



Pharmacy Owner Shot and Killed During Robbery

April 29, TRENTON, NJ - 54 year old Arjun Dyapa Reddy was shot in the chest by a masked man who tried to rob him of prescription pills. Medics tried to rush 54-year-old Arjun Dyapa Reddy to the hospital, but he was already dead. Reddy owned the Brunswick Pharmacy. Police have a good description of the suspect they are searching for.



Tire Separation Causes Tractor Trailer to Crash, Driver Killed

April 29, SAN ANTONIO, TX - 52 year old Jose Trinidad Santos was killed in a single vehicle incident in rural Guadalupe County. Santos was driving a 1996 tractor-trailer when part of the truck's left steering tire tread separated, causing him to lose control, according to DPS Trooper Christopher Germany. Santos' vehicle ran off the side of the road before striking trees.



Cable Installer Crushed Under Machinery

April 29, ANDREWS, NC - 41 year old Sonia Luther Gregory was killed Friday, when a 2,000-pound trenching machine fell on her while she was working a cable job in Graham County. Gregory was using the machine to install cable on Carolina Vista Road when it tipped over and landed on her. Gregory, a private contractor who often installed cable for phone companies, was declared dead at the scene.



Cab Driver Found Dead Next to Taxi

April 29, CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - 54 year old Cathy Stickley was found dead of stab wounds to the head and neck in an alley next to her taxi cab. Her death has been ruled a homicide. She died at the scene after medical personnel tried to revive her. Stickley drove cab for Century Cab.


Deceased Vineyard Worker Identified

April 29, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA - 22 year old Federico Nicolas of Santa Maria was identified as the man killed in an accident involving farm equipment. Nicolas died from blunt force trauma when the tractor he was operating collided with another tractor on the Pacific Vineyard Company property at 5878 Edna Road. Cal-OSHA has taken over the investigation.


Maintenance Worker Electrocuted

April 28, BETHEL, AK - 51 year old Clifford Soots, a maintenance worker for Yukon Kuskokwin Health Corp., died of apparent electrocution while fixing a pump at the headquarters of the regional health corporation, authorities said. He was working in a utility room on a pump when he was shocked unconscious. He died a short time later.



Mechanic Crushed Under Rolling Semi

April 27, OGDEN, AR - 59 year old Gary Walker of Ashdown was hit and killed by a tractor trailer that he was going to work on. He was a mechanic for Harrington Forestry and Maintenance was called to fix the brakes on the big rig. He told the driver to set the brake but before the driver could get back to the cab, the truck began rolling backwards, crushing Walker under the rear tandem tires.






Print this post