Weekly Toll

Sheriff Deputy Shot and Killed Serving Warrant

June 29, ALBANY, PA - 28 year old Kyle Pagerly, a K-9 Deputy with the Berk's County Sheriff's Department, was shot and killed while trying to serve a warrant. Pagerly and fellow deputies went to the home of the suspect's girlfriend and when he bolted out the back door and into the woods they gave chase. Pagerly ordered the suspect to drop his weapon but the suspect instead opened fire with an AK 47, killing Pagerly.


Service Station Worker Crushed Under Car

June 29, LAFAYETTE, WI - 28 year old Nicholas Van Dyke of Elkhorn, an employee for Lockhart's Service Station suffered crushing injuries when a car he was working on fell of a hoist. He was freed by co-workers and sheriff's deputies but later died at a local hospital.


Water Company Worker Struck by Vehicle

June 28, BEAUMONT, CA - 24 year old Ricardo "Ricky" Flores was struck and killed while working Tuesday. Flores worked for the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District and was marking the location of a water line when he was struck by a flatbed truck.


Coal Miner Killed When Roof Collapses

June 27, BOLT, WV - 33 year old Joseph M. Cassell of Glen Daniel was killed when part of the Rhino Eastern Eagle's No. 1 mine wall collapsed on him. Cassell was preparing to set roof support timbers and was shoveling along the mine wall Monday when he was struck and crushed by a 100-inch-high, 32-foot-long piece of the wall according to MSHA officials. An investigation continues.


Driver Dies After Water Truck Overturns

June 27, HOMAUNAU, HI - 36 year old Newton K. Leslie was killed when the water truck he was driving overturned. The tanker was carrying a full load of water when police say Leslie lost control on a curve in the roadway and overturned. Leslie was not wearing a seat belt and was partially ejected from the vehicle. He worked for a construction company doing work at the Keahole Airport.


Officer Killed in Fiery Crash

June 26, BALL, LA - 47 year old Russell A. George, an officer with the Ball Police Department, died in a fiery crash while responding to a call. He was responding to a call when his patrol car collided with an abandoned bicycle that was located in the roadway. He then lost control of his patrol car, left the roadway and collided with several trees causing the patrol car to become engulfed in flames. Officer George died at the scene.


Man Killed in Pipeline Incident

June 26, LUFKIN, TX - 22 year old Kyle Helton died Sunday in an industrial incident in Newton County. According to the Sheriff it appears Helton was crushed when a large pipe assembly fell on him. He worked for FESCO, a petroleum engineering company.


Navajo Nation Officer Killed in Domestic Dispute Call

June 26, PAGE, AZ - 48 year old Sgt. Darrell Curley, a Navajo Nation officer, was shot and killed Saturday while answering a domestic violence call in Kaibito, a small town near Page. A spokesperson declined to say if the suspects were arrested or may have also been shot. The FBI is assisting with the investigation.


Worker Knocked to Ground Dies

June 25, ATLANTA, GA - 31 year old Carlos Rivera-Garcia of Gainesville died as the result of a 20 foot fall Saturday. He was working for Shumate Air Conditioning and Heating at a local high school when a metal pipe came loose from the ceiling and struck the lift holding the worker. The impact caused Rivera-Garcia to fall onto the pavement below.


Mower Accident Kills Man

June 24, STANSBURY PARK, UT - 76 year old G. Neil Magann died when the lawn mower he was driving overturned into a pond. Tooele County Sheriff Chief Deputy Duke North says Magann was operating the lawn mower and apparently drove too close to the edge of the pond. The lawn mower flipped over, pinning him in the water.



Train Conductor Dies as Semi Slams Into Train

June 24, SPARKS, NV - 68 year old Laurette Lee of South Lake Tahoe, CA died as the result of a tractor trailer rig slamming into an Amtrak train. The semi driver and several passengers died as a result of the crash which erupted into a major blaze. The tractor trailer was traveling at a high rate of speed and tried, for about a football field length, to stop before it smashed through the warning gates and into a pair of double-decker cars.


Tractor Trailer Driver Unable to Stop Rig, Crashes Into Passenger Train

June 24, SPARKS, NV - 43 year old Lawrence R. Valli, a tractor trailer driver from Winnemucca, NV was killed when he was unable to stop his vehicle and slammed into the side of a passenger Amtrak train on Friday. The truck was reportedly traveling at a high rate of speed but Valli was unable to stop the truck before it crashed through warning gates and into two train cars. A train conductor and several passengers died as the result of the crash and fire.


Worker Dies in Industrial Incident

June 24, BATTLE CREEK, MI - Robert Risner of Hillsdale died Friday when he became trapped between a basket lift and ceiling beam. He began working in a boom lift around, touching up painting on the ceiling beams of Rosler Metal Finishing USA LLC. His body was found pinned between the basket of the lift and a ceiling beam, according to the police report.


Business Owner Dies When Storage Area Collapses

June 24, GOLDEN, CO - 45 year old Bret Jay Yocum of Littleton died when a storage alcove collapsed onto him. Yocum, owner of Alpine Envelope, was buried when a storage mezzanine area in the ceiling gave way and he was buried. The cause of the collapse is under investigation.


Tow Truck Driver Pinned by RV Dies

June 24, ORLANDO, FL - 24 year old Jonathan Roig was killed Friday when a recreational vehicle he was unloading pinned him against a parking curb, apparently crushing him, authorities said. Roig was delivering the vehicle to Cummins Power South to be repaired when it rolled backward. Roig was found behind the RV.


Worker Crushed to Death by Mack Truck

June 24, NEW YORK, NY - 59 year old Errol Wilson, a veteran New York Department of Transportation worker, was killed in a truck accident that involved a DOT vehicle. Wilson was killed when a co-worker accidentally backed over him with a giant Mack Truck while directing the driver during construction in Queens, New York. The driver reportedly lost sight of Wilson.



Man Pinned Against Wall at Tire Shop

June 24, COMMERCE CITY, CO - 27 year old Robert Rios died when he was pinned against the wall of Tres Amigos Tire Shop on Friday. Rios was preparing to do an oil change when a young worker drove the car into the bay, but instead of stopping the car drove off the ramp pinning Rios into a wall.


Worker Killed When Building Collapses

June 23, MORRISTOWN, IN - 51 year old Ronald Terry Rash of Shelbyville died when he fell as the structure he was working on collapsed. Rash was working on a truss about 20 feet above the floor when the structure collapsed. Workers were dismantling a building when the incident occurred and were employed by Caldwell Gravel Services.


Industrial Incident Crushes Worker

June 23, WATERFORD, MI - 48 year old Allen Rommell died Thursday in an industrial incident at Clawson Tank Company. Rommell was climbing out of one of the tanks when he became crushed between the tank and the I-Beam rails it was resting on, causing injury to his abdomen. He was rushed to Genesys Hospital in Grand Blanc and had to be revived during transport when he stopped breathing, according to deputies. OSHA is investigating.



Overturned Tractor Trailer Kills Driver

June 23, LEXINGTON, NC - 22 year old Shane Thomas Allen of Harrisville, UT was killed Thursday when his tractor trailer overturned, pinning him underneath. Police said the truck was traveling on Highway 64 when a load of paper inside the truck shifted, causing the truck to overturn. Allen was thrown from the vehicle and pinned underneath.


Medical Issue May Have Caused Bus Crash

June 23, HOUSTON, TX - 40 year old David Sayers, a METRO bus driver, died Thursday in a crash of his bus. Witnesses told investigators that Sayers appeared to lose control of the METRO bus as the vehicle clipped a truck and hit a highway pillar. Officers are investigating whether Sayers suffered a medical condition before the wreck.


BP Refinery Worker Killed

June 22, CARSON, CA - 54 year old William Barry Wise of Irvine died when he was pinned by a rail car at the Carson plant. Wise was working in an area of the refinery where railcars are loaded with lighter weight products was moving the car into a loading position at a loading rack when the car ran through its designated spot, and Wise was crushed and pinned between objects.


Arkansas Logger Dies When Hit by Falling Tree

June 22, FORT DOUGLAS, AR - 70 year old Bill Turney of Marshall died Wednesday when he was hit in the back by a falling tree while logging in the Ozark National Forest. Authorities say their investigation indicates Turney cut a large tree, which hit a different tree while falling. They say that caused the base of one of the trees to swing around and strike him in the back.









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Church Van Crash Kills Driver

June 23, OAK GROVE, LA - Joey McKan died today from injuries he received in a vehicle accident. The accident happened Wednesday night killing several passengers. The van, belonging to New Zion Baptist Church, somehow went off the road and hit a concrete ditch. The family of McKan think he may have had a seizure prior to the accident.


Incident at Grain Mill Dies

June 22, ROZEL, KS - Rosendo "Manny" Ceniceros of Rozel died of unknown causes at Rozel Grain Industries. Golden Valley Inc. officials confirmed that Rosendo "Manny" Ceniceros died Wednesday in the accident at its Rozel facility but released no other details of the accident.


Fed Ex Semi Driver Dies in Crash with Pickup Truck

June 22, LAS CRUSES, NM - 43 year old Elizabeth Quintana, a Fed Ex tractor-trailer driver, was killed when her rig crashed into a pick up truck Wednesday morning. The circumstances as to cause of the crash are not listed, although in the crash a mother and her daughter were also killed.


Double Fatality in Tractor Trailer Crash

June 22, SUGAR TREE, TN - 62 year old Donald G. Cousins and 62 year old Daniel J. Cousins of Depew, NY were killed when their tractor trailer crashed on Interstate 40 in Decatur County. Officials said the truck was west bound on I-40 and six miles west of Sugar Tree when it ran into the median, hit a beam, went over a bridge barrier and caught fire.


Tractor Trailer Driver Dies in Crash

June 21, PIERCETON, IN - 65 year old Roger A. Schmale of Norfolk, NE was killed when his semi crashed into the back of another semi. According to reports, a rig in front of Schmale slowed for a red light and Schmale couldn't stop in time and slammed into the back of it. Schmale’s tractor-trailer rig was hauling large pieces of farm equipment.



Two Firefighters Die Battling Wild Fire

June 21, HAMILTON COUNTY, FL - 31 year old Josh Burch of Lake City (left in photo) and 52 year old Brett Fulton of White Springs died while working to control a blaze in Hamilton County. Burch and Fulton died at the Blue Ribbon Fire when they were caught in a burnover. The state is investigating the circumstances that led to their death. Two other firefighters who tried to rescue them were treated at hospitals in Gainesville and Lake City for smoke inhalation. The firefighters worked for the Florida Division of Forestry.



Crop Dusting Plane Crash Kills Pilot

June 21, BLAINE COUNTY, MT - Marvin Edwards, the pilot of a crop duster, was killed when the plane crashed near a farm house near Hogeland. Edwards was also the Blaine County Coroner and ran Edwards Funeral Home in Chinook.


Man Falls to His Death Through Building Skylight

June 21, WOONSOCKET, RI - 49 year old Alan Fernandes died Tuesday in a fall. After stopping to check on a renovation project on a building his brother is working on, he stepped on a glass skylight in the floor of the building’s attic and fell four flights down the open stairwell below to the building’s basement, according to Woonsocket Police Lt. Eugene Jalette. He had gone up the staircase and into the attic area where the accident occurred. The skylight in the floor was below another skylight the building’s roof and may have been installed when the building was constructed to help light the stairway below.



Worker Falls From Barge, Drowns

June 21, JEFFERSON PARISH, LA - 52 year old Larry Hartford of Old Jefferson died after falling into the Mississippi River Tuesday morning. Hartford was an employee for Zito Fleeting LLC working on a barge. Co-workers noticed Hartford missing about 8am and after searching the area they spotted him in the water and pulled him out.


Oil Field Worker Swallowed up in Sinkhole

June 21, TAFT, CA - 54 year old Dave Taylor, a 33 year Chevron employee construction rep, died when a sinkhole opened up and he fell in. The sinkhole was only wide enough for one person, and no one else was hurt. Emergency personnel estimated the hole to be 20-30 feet deep, and they said it could have been filled with oil and steam.


Worker Dies in Trench Cave In

June 21, MANHEIM TOWNSHIP, PA - 27 year old Butch Sweitzer of York County died on a construction site when a trench he was working in collapsed. Sweitzer was laying residential water lines in the 10-foot-deep trench when it caved in. Sweitzer worked for York Excavating. There was no shoring on the trench.


Man Dies in Silo Auger Incident

June 20, CAMPBELLSPORT, WI - 49 year old Mark Krewald died Monday after his legs became entangled in an auger inside a silo. Four employees for Philip Marjerus Dairy Barn were cleaning out old feed from the silo when Krewald lost his balance and fell feet first into the auger. Another employee was able to shut the auger off, however Krewald’s legs remained entangled in the auger, according to the Sheriff’s Department report.



Two City Workers Killed When Hit by Train

June 20, CHERAW, SC - 57 year old Barney Driggers and 52 year old Glenn Locklear, employees for Cheraw's Public Works, were killed Monday when their work truck was hit by an Amtrak Train. Driggers and Locklear were driving their truck, pulling a trailer when it was struck by the train. There were no crossing arms at the intersection.


State Worker and Semi Driver Killed in Wreck

June 20, MEMPHIS, TN - 49 year old Robert Nowicki of Adamsville, TN, a Tennessee Dept. of Transportation HELP driver, and 41 year old Tony L. Davis of Steele, MO, a tractor trailer driver, were killed when Davis' semi slammed into a disabled semi which then hit Nowicki. Nowicki stopped to help the disabled tractor trailer on the Interstate 55 bridge over the Mississippi River when Davis' truck struck the disabled truck. Nowicki was standing outside his truck when he was struck.



Highway Maintenance Worker Struck and Killed

June 20, SAN DIEGO, CA - 52 year old Richard Gonzales of San Ysidro died Monday when he was struck by a vehicle while working along the I-15 freeway. He was part of a CALTRANS clean up crew. Gonzales is the third maintenance crew member killed in 48 days.


Electrical Apprentice Dies After Receiving Shock

June 20, ANCHORAGE, AK - 26 year old Abigail Caudle died after being shocked and then falling about 9 feet. Caudle was an apprentice electrician working with two journeymen on an electrical remodel, said Don Lederhos, president of Raven Electric. The exact manner or cause of her death is unclear.


Mechanic Suffers Fatal Crush Injuries

June 20, NEW ALBANY, KY - 54 year old Ronnie Cobb Jr. died Friday when a truck he was working on rolled back off a lift and onto him. Cobb, an employee for Ace Automotive, was working on a truck and when he removed the drive shaft it was like being in neutral and it started rolling backwards. The movement created too much weight on the lift and it just gave way.



Man Crushed While Working to Clear Trees

June 20, SACKETS HARBOR, NY - 47 year old Kenneth Bush of Lacona was killed Monday morning when he was pinned in an excavator by an uprooted tree. A 40-foot-tall tree followed the arm of the excavator and slid down onto the cab. The machine had been cutting and pulling trees at the eastern end of Madison Barracks. Mr. Bush was pinned inside the cab for seven to ten minutes before rescuers arrived, but he was unconscious and unresponsive.


Church Van Driver Dies in Crash

June 20, WINSTON-SALEM, NC - 43 year old Cedric Hooper died after the van he was driving ran off the road and hit two utility poles. The van was carrying 13 children for Emmanuel Baptist Church when the accident happened. None of the children were seriously injured. Police are investigating the accident.



Pharmacist Killed by Drug Seeking Robber

June 19, LONG ISLAND, NY - 45 year old Raymond Ferguson of Centerreach was shot and killed Sunday by a gunman who entered the store seeking prescription drugs. He, along with another worker and two customers were shot dead inside the Haven Drugs Pharmacy in Medford. Ferguson usually worked about twice a month as needed and had been called in to work Father's Day. Surveillance video captured the suspect and police are searching for him.



Pharmacy Clerk Shot to Death

June 19, LONG ISLAND, NY - 17 year old Jennifer Mejia of East Patchogue was shot and killed inside the Haven Drugs Pharmacy where she worked on Father's Day. She, along with the pharmacist and two customers, were gunned down by a man who was robbing the store of drugs. Mejia was due to graduate high school Thursday and was an aspiring doctor.



Gas Station Clerk Killed in Robbery Attempt

June 18, HOUSTON, TX - 28 year old Syed Hussain was shot and killed by a man who tried to rob money from his employer, a Chevron gas station. Hussain was walking another employee who was carrying a large sum of cash to a parked car near the pumps when a man approached the employees. Hussain and the gunman struggled over the money and was shot.



Clerk Fatally Shot by Robbers

June 18, ENGLEWOOD, IL - 48 year old Asad Almhana of Palos Park was fatally shot inside Max's Food Mart while working Saturday. Four teenagers entered the store and shot through an opening that merchandise is passed through in the bullet proof glass that separates the clerk from the customers. Relatives had been urging Almhana to quit because of the danger. Almhana was taken to a local hospital where he died.


Cause of Death Unknown for Plumber

June 17, FAYETTEVILLE, NC - 31 year old Tony Locklear died of unknown injuries or circumstances while working under a home in Fayetteville. Locklear was an employee for Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Drain and was in the crawl space of a house when he yelled to co-workers for help, authorities said. Rescuers cut a hole in the kitchen floor to reach Locklear but he was dead behind an air conditioning duct.


Wall Collapse Takes the Life of Firefighter

June 17, PICKNEYVILLE, IL - 22 year old Corey Shaw, a member of the DuQuoin Fire Department, was killed Friday during a massive blaze that destroyed two historical structures in Pickneyville. Shaw died as the result of a wall collapsing while he was battling the blaze. He leaves behind a two year old daughter.


Logging Accident Kills Worker

June 17, OWSLEY COUNTY, KY - Wayne Caudill of Lee County died Friday at a job site in the Meadowcreek community in Owsley County. Caudill and his brother-in-law bought 100 acres of timber and were working on cutting it up when the chainsaw kicked back and severed an artery in Caudill's arm. Only his brother-in-law was around to get help. His brother-in-law was the only one around to go get help and by the time they got back it was too late.


Truck Driver Dies in Rollover

June 16, SUMMERTOWN, TN - 73 year old Junior J. Peters of Corinth, MS died when the semi he was driving overturned. Peters was rounding a curve when the cargo in his trailer shifted, causing the truck to flip, according to a crash report.








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Explosion at Water Treatment Plant Kills Worker

June 16, REDDING, CA - 54 year old Fred Crumb of Shasta Lake has died of head injuries he sustained in an explosion at Clear Creek Wastewater treatment plant Wednesday. The explosion blew the top off a 4,500-gallon steel hydropneumatic tank. Water that has been chlorinated and then is distributed throughout the plant is pressurized going into and out of the tank. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the explosion.


Security Guard Dies in Crash, May Have Suffered Medical Issue

June 16, ANDERSON SC - 67 year old Marshall C. Chastain of Williamston died when the jeep he was driving crashed through a fence and ultimately into a building. He worked for Security Forces Inc. and was patrolling the First Quality tissue plant in Anderson. Authorities believe a diabetic reaction may have caused him to lose control of his vehicle, going down a hill and into a building on site.


Highway Worker Killed in Work Related Incident

June 16, DEMOTTE, IN - 54 year old Tony Northcutt of Rensselaer died of blunt force trauma when a dump truck backed into him. Northcutt was part of an Indiana Dept. of Transportation crew that was pouring hot sealant into cracks in the highway to keep water from filling in and causing damage in the winter months. A co-worker was following in a dump truck to lay sand over the sealant when he backed into Northcutt. The driver did not see Northcutt in his rear view mirrors.


Firefighter Dies In Roof Collapse

June 15, MUNCIE, IN - 40 year old Firefighter Scott Davis died when the roof of a burning church collapsed. Video showed fellow firefighters circling the spot where Davis was found as a ladder truck continued to pour water on the structure.




Worker Killed in Construction Incident

June 15, PARMA HEIGHTS, OH - 53 year old Douglas Patterson was killed Wednesday when he was working inside a trench. According to authorities, Patterson was in a hole along Stumph Road, between Pearl Road and Snow Road, which had been dug by another worker using a track hoe. It appears an excavating claw attached to the end of the track hoe hit Patterson and killed him. Fabrizi Trucking and Paving is the general contractor on the project hired by Cuyahoga County for a repaving and infrastructure project along Stumph Road.


Worker Dies of Injuries Related to Electric Shock

June 15, EAST WINDSOR, NJ - 63 year old Melvin Cardonick of Philadelphia, PA has died of injures he received from an electric jolt and fall from ladder on June 5. Cardonick was working on signage at Windsor-Hights shopping center when he was knocked from his ladder after receiving an electric shock. He fell 30 feet. He was transported to a local hospital where doctors ultimately realized that his colon had been burned in the incident and it let toxins into his blood stream.



DOT Worker Dies Of Injuries

June 14, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - Terry Clubb of Harrah, a Department of Transportation inspector, died on Tuesday night after an accident Monday along Interstate 40 near the Interstate 35 on-ramp. A truck filled with asphalt rolled onto Clubb on Monday, pinning him for half an hour. A tractor-trailer carrying asphalt backed into the area to load the asphalt into a spreader but when its load shifted Clubb was trapped between the truck and concrete median barrier.



Officer Collapses and Dies During Training

June 14, AZUSA, CA - 23 year old Kevin Sandoval collapsed and died during a training exercise at a firing range Tuesday. Sandoval was training with fellow officers Tuesday afternoon when he collapsed and hit his head. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He was an officer for the South Pasadena Police Dept.



Tanker Explosion and Fire Kills Driver

June 14, BARRE, NY - 51 year old John G. Timblin of North Tonawanda was killed early Tuesday when the 18-wheel truck he was driving crashed and the ethanol he was hauling exploded. Timblin had just left the Western New York Energy LLC ethanol plant in Medina and was headed eastbound toward Rochester when he failed to negotiate a curve in the road, sheared an electric pole in half and crashed into a cluster of trees. The front half of the truck burst into flames and the cab of the vehicle was consumed by fire.



Worker Dies of Crushing Injuries at Bedding Factory

June 14, WALLKILL, NY - 47 year old Jainarine Depoo has died after getting trapped between two rollers of a mattress-bagging machine at upstate New York Corsicana Bedding factory. Police say his chest was compressed by the machine and he was removed by co-workers. He died at a local hospital. OSHA is investigating.



Road Worker Killed Was New Father

June 14, BRANDON, FL - 20 year old Robert P. Armstrong of Valrico was killed on I-75 in Brandon early Tuesday according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Workers were attaching a message board trailer to a truck when the driver of a pickup lost control, hitting the message board and truck. Armstrong was outside on the driver's side of the truck when he was hit. He died at the scene.



Worker's Body Recovered After Building Collapse

June 13, ST. PETERSBURG, FL - 65 year old Clark White of Moundsville, WV died after he was trapped inside an old power plant on Weedon Island when it collapsed on him Thursday. He was a welder for Frontier Industrial Corp. of Buffalo, NY and was part of a crew preparing a large boiler structure for a controlled collapse at the old Progress Energy plant when it came down prematurely. White was able to warn other crew members, including his son and nephew as the building began to crumble on Thursday. They helped in the rescue attempt, which unfortunately turned into a recovery effort.


Truck Driver Dies Following Crash

June 12, POLK COUNTY, IA - 58 year old Richard Leroy England of Wellsburg suffered fatal injuries in a traffic accident on Interstate Highway 35 in northern Polk County late Sunday night. England was driving a United Parcel Service truck when he lost control, veered off the roadway and struck a wire safety guard. He was taken to a hospital in Des Moines where he later died.




Officer Dies of Injuries After Being Struck by Car

June 12, DETROIT, MI - 40 year old Charles Armour, a veteran of the Detroit Police Department, has died of injuries after being struck by a car on June 5. Officer Armour was on foot patrol in Greektown when the driver of car, going the wrong way on a one-way street when he ran into the officer, seemingly on purpose. Among other charges, the driver faces an assault with intent to commit murder charge.



Worker Killed Inside Recycling Plant

June 12, EARTH CITY, MO - 43 year old Mario Montoya died Sunday in an incident at Resource Management Co. Investigators say that co-workers found Montoya inside a compactor machine where he was suffering from lower extremity and leg injuries. He was conscious at the time and was transported to a local hospital where he later died of his injuries.


Worker Dies From Severe Head Trauma

June 12, CHARLOTTE, NC - 35 year old Richard Thomas Yoost of Rock Hill was killed when he was hit in the head by a falling door. Yoost was working for Lowe's in South Charlotte and according to the police report he was standing under a garage door when it fell down and struck him in the head. He was transported to a local hospital where he later died. OSHA is investigation the incident.



Two Oil Rig Workers Killed

June 11, BIG SPRING, TX - 25 year old Jason Paul Bolt and 28 year old Sandy Daves, both of Big Spring, were killed early Saturday morning after suffering head injuries on a rig operated by Robinson Drilling of Texas Ltd. Witnesses of the accident said Daves was on the tongs and Bolt was throwing the chain on the rig when the kelly came to an abrupt stop and the block fell. Daves was struck in the head by the tong, and Bolt suffered a head injury from the block itself.


Cattle Rancher and Horse Die After Being Struck by Lightning

June 11, BRIDGER, MT - 54 year old Gary DeVries was on horseback Saturday, rounding up cattle for branding when he and his horse were struck by lightning. DeVries and his horse died at the scene.



Man Dies of Injuries Due to Fall

June 10, ST. LOUIS PARK, MN - 25 year old Ryan John Shannon of Roseville died of multiple blunt force injuries after falling from the roof of an eight-story apartment building in St. Louis Park. Shannon was part of a window washing crew when he fell from the Knollwood Place Apartments, a 151-unit independent senior living building.


Landscape Worker Hit and Killed by Driver

June 10, WICHITA, KS - 31 year old Ramon Martinez-Limon, from Mexico but working for CLM Landscaping in Wichita, was killed when he was struck and killed on impact by the driver of a mini van who jumped a curb. The driver who hit Martinez-Limon, a local Wichita doctor, continued to drive with the Martinez-Limon's body still on the roof of his van, driving to his home with other passenger's in the vehicle. He was arrested.


Security Guard Shot to Death

June 10, SANTA ANA, CA - 23 year old Jaime Alberto Medrano was shot in the head in the parking lot of the apartment complex where he served as security guard. Medrano’s father told a reporter that his son feared for his life because of local gangs. He also said that his son had asked the apartment complex’s management to add another security guard to his overnight patrol.


Farmer Struck by Lightning

June 10, DURHAM, NC - Steven Taylor died Friday after he was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm while out feeding his livestock. He was found face down in the field by his wife.


Man Dies in Work Related Incident

June 10, BRANDT, SD - 76 year old Dale Hoftiezer of Clear Lake was killed Friday in a work accident at a road construction site just west of Brandt. According to authorities, Hoftiezer died when an asphalt roller overturned and pinned him as he was loading it onto a trailer.


Lightning Strike Kills Young Worker

June 9, SADSBURY TOWNSHIP, PA - 13 year old Levi Lantz was struck dead by a bolt of lightning while working with his father to bale hay on their farm. His father felt a tingle, heard a loud clap and when he turned around Levi was on the ground. The lightning accompanied strong storms that moved across the state Thursday night, toppling trees and damaging homes from suburban Pittsburgh to the Pocono Mountains.



Officer Shot and Killed Serving Warrant

June 9, KINSTON, NC - Warren Lewis, "Sneak" to his friends and an Investigator with the Nash County Sheriff's Office, was shot and killed Thursday night while he was attempting to serve a murder warrant. He was working with a task force of local and federal officers investigating a death and was serving warrants for five people involved in the death of a restaurant worker. All five fugitives have been arrested and charged with murder.



Construction Incident Causes Man's Death

June 9, EVANSVILLE, MN - 27 year old Darin Slack of Evansville, who was injured in a construction accident June 4 in Chamberlain, SC, has died. He worked for Rainbow, Inc. but it is unclear of the manner or cause of his death.




Worker Crushed in Scape Yard Incident

June 7, MERIDIAN, MS - 56 year old Willie Baker died as the result of crushing injuries while working at a scrap yard. According to the coroner, Baker got caught between the cab and trailer of a tractor-trailer rig on Tuesday as another Southern Scrap employee backed it up. He says he believes they were trying to get some trailer lights working. OSHA is investigating.




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Incident at Mine Claims Man's Life

June 9, SOMERSET, CO - an unidentified 53 year old man, contracted to work at the West Elk Mine near Somerset, has died after falling from a catwalk. As he fell, he struck an I-beam on the ground about 8 feet below. He was transported to a local hospital where he died a short time later. UPDATE: Authorities have identified the man killed as Fred Benally of Farmington, NM.


Roofer Falls to His Death

June 9, RICHMOND, CA - 41 year old Castanon Mauricio, a contractor performing roofing work fell to his death Thursday. A coroner's deputy said Mauricio fell 30 feet onto his back from a house on Western Drive. Co-workers on the roof did not see him fall, and noticed only when they began searching for him after they did not see him among the group of roofers. He was conscious when he was transported to the hospital but died soon after arriving.


Tractor Trailer Driver Killed in Crash

June 9, HUDSON, IL - 38 year old Johnathan R. Stern of Rock Falls died Thursday morning after he crashed his semi tractor trailer into the rear of another semi on I-39. The trucks collided near mile marker 2 in rural Hudson after the other driver tried to merge back into traffic from the shoulder. He had reportedly stopped to read a map. Stern died on the scene.



Truck Driver Dies in Collision With Train

June 9, HOPE, AR - 57 year old Samuel McCullough of Nashville was killed when he drove the truck into a train in an industrial park near Hope. A report on the accident says McCullough was westbound when he drove his Mack truck into the side of the lead train engine. McCullough died about two hours later at a Hope hospital.




Young Worker Dies Buried in Grain

June 9, KINDRED, ND - an unidentified 22 year old young man died after being buried under tons of corn grain today. According to co-workers, he was using a tractor to move the corn but at some point they found his tractor running but he was not in it. Crews say they had difficultly finding the man after he became stuck under tons of corn and in a hole at the storage building. UPDATE: Authorities have identified the young man who died as Franklin Samuel "Sam" Scott. A young life lost too soon.



Man Dies as Truck Rolls Off Levee

June 9, OMAHA, NE - 58 year old James McGauley, hometown unknown, died while working to construct a levee when his truck rolled over. McGauley's co-workers desperately tried to save him but he was underwater for too long. He was taken by medical helicopter to an Omaha hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was employed by Martin Marietta Materials.


Incident at Waste Facility Kills Worker

June 8, EAST DONEGAL, PA - 48 year old Antonio Valentin Jr. of Marietta was killed when he was trapped under a vehicle he was working on. Another worker discovered Valentin, a mechanic, trapped beneath a vehicle he was working on in a garage there, police said. As a result of his injuries, Valentin died at the scene.


Cab Driver and Passenger Die in Crash

June 8, ORLANDO, FL - 39 year old Fleurinat Estephine, a cab driver, and his passenger were killed after a dump truck slammed into his vehicle on the BeachLine Expressway. An investigation by FHP is underway.


Domestic Dispute Suspect Shoots Deputy

June 8, UTICA, NY - 24 year old Deputy Kurt Wyman died in Utica hospital after being shot once inside a garage in the rural hamlet of Knoxboro, police said. He had been trying to arrest a man whose girlfriend had earlier called 911 in a panic after he threatened to kill her and himself. The girlfriend fled to a neighbor's home and was unhurt but the gunman stayed and battled with Wyman and other deputies who arrived for back up. The deputy's wife went into labor after hearing her husband had been killed and delivered their baby girl hours later. They also have an 18 mo old son.



Semi Driver Dies in Crash With Construction Truck

June 8, STATESVILLE, NC - 65 year old Ronnie Clayton Greer of Valdese died after his semi crashed into the read of a construction truck. According to the N.C. State Highway Patrol, flashing lights and signs had been posted to warn motorists of construction crews ahead, but Greer’s truck, traveling westbound, slammed into the back of a crash barrier truck designed to protect workers.



Farmer Dies When Tractor Runs Off Road and Overturns

June 8, JEFFERSONVILLE, OH - 52 year old Joel E. Eltzroth died when his tractor went off the roadway and flipped. Deputies say Eltzroth was driving a commercial fertilizer spreader westbound on S.R. 56 when the tractor went off the right side of the road and flipped, throwing Eltzroth from the vehicle.


Trash Truck Driver Dies in Rear-End Collision

June 8, HIGHLAND, IL - 36 year old Chad M. True of Irvington died Wednesday when the vehicle he was driving rear-ended a dump truck near Highland. According to police, the dump truck was waiting to make a turn when the truck True was driving slammed into the back of it. True's truck continued eastbound, overturned and caught fire. He was unable to escape the truck. True's passenger was thrown from the truck.



Truck Driver Killed in Crash

June 8, FAIRFIELD, IL - 24 year old Casey G. Massengill of Middlesboro, KY was killed Wednesday morning when his truck overturned on U.S. 45 south of Fairfield at the New Hope curve. The overturned semi was then hit by a garbage truck. The crash is under investigation.



Highway Worker Struck and Killed

June 8, COVINGTON, IN - 28 year old Jeremy Bagwell, an employee of Milestone Contractors, was struck and killed by a driver while working along Indiana 63 in Warren County. Bagwell was painting temporary stripes along the roadway when for some reason the driver of an SUV swerved over, struck a cone and then Bagwell. An investigation continues.


Two Insurance Fraud Investigators Killed by Agent

June 7, VILLE PLATTE, LA - Kim Sledge and Rhett Jeansonne, two fraud investigators for Louisiana Department of Insurance, were shot and killed while trying to collect case information from an insurance agent in Ville Platte. The agent being investigated had been charged with failing to send insurance premiums collected from customers to the insurance companies. After killed Sledge and Jeansonne, the agent turned the gun on himself.



Tow Truck Driver Found Shot to Death

June 7, OXON HILL, MD - Anton Agurs, of District Heights, was found shot to death beside his truck Tuesday night. Agurs owned his own tow company, Sanctified Towing, and responded to a call out about 10PM. The family says the truck's lights were still flashing. Police say they got a call about a man unconscious in the road. No one seems to know why he was there or if he ever made it to his tow call.


Truck Driver Dies After Possible Medical Event

June 7, MORAINE, OH - 53 year old Larry Moreland of Dayton died after his tractor-trailer slammed into two trees on Dryden Road Tuesday. Moreland was a driver for Mad River Transportation on a run at the time of the accident. Authorities are "pretty certain he had a medical event" that precipitated the crash.


Worker Stabbed in Neck Dies

June 7, GARDEN CITY, KS - 30 year old Cesar Muniz died after he was stabbed in the neck by a co-worker at the Tyson Fresh Meats plant. A preliminary investigation found that Muniz and a 34-year-old man who were working in the same area of the plant somehow bumped heads while working. The other man had a knife in his hand and Muniz was stabbed.



Two Men Die After Being Trapped in Manhole

June 7, DURHAM, NC - 34 year old Luis Casteneda Gomez of Durham and 32 year old Jesus Martinez Benitez of Clayton died of suffocation after being trapped in a manhole 12 feet below the ground. The men worked for Triangle Grading & Paving of Burlington. Sheriff's officials say co-workers of the men called 911 after realizing the men were trapped, but the two were dead by the time emergency workers arrived. The bodies were recovered about three hours later.


Man Dies in Corn Engulfment

June 7, OCHEYEDAN, IA - 37 year old Corey Wingate has died after being engulfed in a corn storage unit at the Cooperative Elevator Association in Ocheyedan according to a sheriff's spokesman. Wingate was transported to the Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley where he was pronounced dead.



Truck Hits and Kills Warehouse Worker

June 7, HICKORY, NC - 49 year old Jerry Whitman of Granite Falls was killed when a truck backing up at a warehouse hit him. A Pepsi tractor trailer was backing up to a loading dock at Institution Food House, a food supplier, when it hit Whitman. The incident is under investigation.


Sanitation Worker Killed When Hit Along Roadway

June 7, BLOOMING GROVE, NY - 24 year old Jon Walsh of Chester was struck and killed by a federal government vehicle while picking up recyclable material along a Hudson Valley road. Police believe he didn't see the vehicle before crossing into an opposite lane. Walsh worked for Ramsey, NJ based Interstate Waster Services.


Caltrans Worker Hit & Killed on Roadway

June 7, IMPERIAL, CA - 53 year old Jaime Obeso, a Caltrans maintenance worker, was struck by a vehicle while working along eastbound Interstate 8 near the Sunbeam Rest Area in Imperial County, six miles west of El Centro. He died at the scene. He is survived by his wife and two children.


Sheriff Deputy Dies of Gunshot Wound

June 7, NASHVILLE, TN - Deputy Richard "Keith" Beller died Tuesday at a Nashville hospital a day after he was shot by a man who then fatally shot himself. The man who shot Beller had run his estranged wife’s car off a road and Bellar stopped to assist with what appeared to be a traffic accident. Police said the man shot Bellar, then killed himself.


Man Killed in Industrial Accident

June 7, MILWAUKEE, WI - 23 year old Benjamin H. Alcorn, a crane operator for Acme Galvanizing, was killed in an industrial accident Tuesday. Alcorn was crushed just under a 6,000-pound steel bar that had not been securely attached to an overhead crane's pulley hook. Operators are supposed to stand outside a designated area. Alcorn did not, the report said. At least 3 government agencies are investigating.


Unidentified Worker Dies in Fall

June 7, WHITTIER, CA - a 53 year old man has died after falling through a skylight. The man, who worked for Southern California Valve Co. was apparently working of the roof of the building when he fell about 30 feet through a skylight. He suffered major head injuries. The cause of the fall is under investigation. UPDATE: Authorities have identified the worker killed as Perry Wayne Isham of Bellflower.


Driver Dies of Burns After Fuel Tank Explodes
June 6, ARCADIA, PA - 66 year old Darrell Bowser of Mahaffey died Monday after a worksite fuel explosion left him seriously burned. Bowser was using a handheld grinder to repair a bulldozer at a work site when the vehicle's fuel tank exploded. The blast was powerful enough to destroy both the bulldozer and his truck that was parked nearby. He was airlifted to a burn unit where he died of his burns.


Tractor Trailer Driver Killed in Crash

June 6, OSSEO, WI - 63 year old Steven W. Crawford of Mondovi died after he attempted to drive his 1999 Freightliner tractor around the right side of another semi-rig, traveling at a slow speed in the right lane due to a flat tire. Crawford's truck struck the rear of the other trailer, burst into flames and jack-knifed across both eastbound lanes. He died at the scene.


Surface Mine Worker Killed in Truck Rollover

June 6, NORTON, VA - 71 year old Lacy E. Trent, a coal truck driver for Presley Trucking, died when he was pinned inside a dump truck. The accident occurred Monday on a haul road at Humphreys Enterprises' No. 5 Strip surface mine in Wise County. MSHA says the truck overturned after hitting a safety berm while descending a steep slope.


Worker Dies of Injuries Received in Fall

June 5, CHARLOTTE, NC - Marvin Near, who was injured at the Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24, has died. Near, a contracted employee for Huggins Tire Sales, fell from the back of a slow-moving pick-up truck driven by a Huggins employee while delivering Goodyear racing tires for the weekend's events at CMS.



Second Injured Firefighter Dies

June 4, SAN FRANCISCO, CA - 53 year old Anthony "Tony" Valerio, injured in a blaze that killed Lt. Vincent Perez June 2, has died. The two firefighters were caught in a flash fire caused by superheated gases while battling a blaze at a home on Berkeley Way. Valerio had waged a minute by minute battle to survive, but lost his battle Saturday morning.



Gold Mine Worker Falls to His Death

June 4, FAIRBANKS, AK - 39 year old Michael J. Murray, a mill operator for Fort Knox Gold Mine, fell to his death at the mine Saturday evening. Murray was cleaning the second floor of a crusher room by himself when he tripped and fell 80 feet through a hole in the floor, according to troopers. Murray was supposed to be wearing a harness but according to a trooper spokeswoman, he was not.



Man Dies in Accident With Farm Tractor

June 4, GRACEMONT, OK - 72 year old Leon G. Griffitts has died in an accident involving a tractor in rural Caddo County. Troopers says Griffitts was standing next to a 1940s model John Deere tractor, attempting to crank start it, but he didn't realize the tractor was in gear and it began backing up, out of control. As he tried to disengage the clutch his clothing got entangled in the tractor and he was dragged for an unknown distance. He died at the scene.


Restaurant Worker Shot to Death in Robbery

June 3, COLUMBIA, SC - 35 year old Steven Fowler of Irmo was found shot to death during a robbery Friday. Fowler was closing up the Papa John's restaurant he worked at when police received a report of shots fired. Police found Fowler shot in the chest inside his car.



Veteran Police Sgt. Dies on Duty

June 3, HAMMOND, IL - 51 year old Sgt. James B. Medwetz died Friday morning after he experienced chest pains while on duty at the jail. He was transported to St. Margaret Mercy Healthcare Center in Hammond where he died. Medwetz worked as a Hammond police officer for 29 years, serving in the patrol section, criminal investigation division, support services division, and as a Hammond City Court security officer.



Construction Worker Dies Due to Fall

June 3, AUBURN, ME - 51 year old John Ledue of Portland died Friday when he fell while working on masonry at the former Webster School. Ledue fell about 10 feet at 2 p.m. Friday, hitting his head during the fall. Witnesses said when he fell, he was jackhammering to remove bricks. Ledue was employed by Hascall & Hall of Portland.


Police Officer Dies of Lightning Strike Injuries
June 3, JOPLIN, MO - 31 year old Jefferson "Jeff" Taylor of Riverside died Friday from injuries he received in a lightning strike on May 23. Taylor was part of Riverside’s 12-member contingent of police officers, firefighters and public works staff members who responded to the Joplin tornado disaster. On the evening after the tornado, as a new line of storms moved through the Joplin area, Taylor had just returned to a command post when lightning struck the ground near where he was working.


Highway Worker Struck and Killed

June 2, PINE BLUFF, AR - 64 year old Anderson Williams of McGehee died after being struck by a street sweeper. Williams, an employee for AR Highway & Transportation Dept., was with a department crew working along Camden Road when he was somehow struck by the street sweeper.



Farm Owner Suffers Fatal Crush Injuries

June 1, BOONVILLE, MO - 66 year old Jack. W. Roth died Wednesday after he was crushed under a semi tractor-trailer that he was working on. A sheriff's spokesman said whatever Roth used to prop up the rear tractor wheels could not support the weight and it fell, trapping him underneath. Roth was a cattle and crop farmer, as well as owner of several tractor-trailer rigs.


Sanitation Worker Found Dead on Job

May 31, AVONDALE ESTATES, GA - 41 year old Kurt Krueger of Decatur died Tuesday after collapsing on the job. While the exact cause or manner of death have not been released, reports state he collapsed while picking up trash on his route.



MARC Conductor Dies of Massive Heart Attack

May 3, WASHINGTON, DC - 57 year old Eric Lee Wolf of Arbutus, MD, a colorful and lighthearted MARC conductor who was an institution on Camden Line trains where he entertained passengers with various jokes and windup toys, died May 3 of a massive heart attack at Washington's Union Station. "Eric was in the process of opening the doors up when he was stricken," said David Johnson, who is chief customer communications officer for MARC. "He died on the platform."







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Lawyer Murdered by Client's Ex-Husband

June 2, YUMA, AZ - 62 year old Jerrold Shelley was shot to death inside his office Thursday by a gunman who also killed five others in an angry rampage. Mr. Shelley had represented the gunman's former wife in divorce proceedings, the police said. They said the victims included the gunman's former wife and others he knew. After killing the five people and wounding another, the gunman killed himself. Police are still investigating.



Firefighter Dies Fighting House Fire

June 2, SAN FRANCISCO, CA - 48 year old Lt. Vincent Perez died and another critically injured while trying to battle a house fire in Diamond Heights. He and the other firefighter were trapped inside the home and caught in a "flashover" - an unexpected explosion caused when temperatures rise so high the contents of a room spontaneously ignite, Fire Department spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge said.



Tree Service Worker Dies of Electrocution

June 2, ORMOND BEACH, FL - 36 year old Damien R. Mays of Daytona Beach was electrocuted while working to trim a large palm tree. Police say Mays was working with a crew Thursday morning when he used a harness and spikes to scale a large palm tree. He was cutting fronds and one got caught on a nearby power line. Mays was unconscious and still strapped to the palm tree when rescue workers arrived. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. It is unclear by the article if he worked for Dahryll Brown's Tree Service or Terry Smith's Tree Service as family stated.



Grandfather Killed in Store Robbery

June 1, FORT WORTH, TX - 66 year old Azmi el Qutob was shot and killed in a robbery Wednesday. According to surveillance video, it took a robber only 30 seconds to walk into Smokey’s Paradise Food Mart on East Rosedale Street, shoot Qutob and leave the store with money. Police say Qutob did not resist and his death was senseless.


Two Tow Truck Drivers Die in Collision

June 1, NEW PORT NEWS, VA - 54 year old John D. Patrick of Hampton and 60 year old Warren Bills of New Port News were killed in a collision between their trucks on I-64 today. According to reports Bills, a driver for Superior Towing was loading a sedan onto his truck when Patrick, a driver for Big Bob's Towing, sideswiped the Superior truck and struck Bills. The Big Boy's Towing truck continued forward, overturning and then sliding across the interstate on its roof. Patrick's family told police he had a heart condition and an autopsy will be performed.


Second Worker of Most Recent Hoeganaes Plant Fire Dies

June 1, GALLATIN, TN - Richard Lester of Hendersonville has died of injuries he sustained in a flash fire May 27 at the Hoeganaes plant in Gallatin. Lester died one day after Eric Hulsey and another worker remains in critical condition at a local hospital. A gas leak is suspected of causing the brief fire that five employees were in close proximity to, according to the initial investigation, Marcey Wurst, corporate human resources officer of Hoeganaes corporate office in New Jersey.


Landscaper Hit and Killed by Out of Control Car

June 1, MORGAN HILL, CA - 57 year old Salvador Pedraza, who was doing landscape work, was struck and killed Wednesday morning when a driver veered off the roadway and went into a drainage ditch, according to police. Pedraza worked for Nueva Vista, a residential care facility for mentally ill adults.



State Trooper Injured in 2003, Dies

June 1, MIDDLEBOROUGH, MA - 58 year old Ellen Engelhardt, a MD State Trooper, has died of injuries she received when hit by a drunk driver eight years ago while on duty. She suffered severe brain injuries when an 18 year old drunk driver slammed into her patrol vehicle at approximately 100 miles per hour. She was treated at several facilities until her placement in a South Shore nursing home where she passed.


Forklift Incident Kills Worker

June 1, WESTMINSTER, MD - 44 year old Ronald William Schlitzer, an employee for Random House Publishing, died when the forklift he was driving hit a shelving unit full of books in a warehouse. He was apparently moving pallets of books when the forklift hit the shelf unit causing it to fall. Schlitzer was pinned between the forklift and the shelf.



Work Vehicle Crash Kills One, Injures Others

June 1, BALTIMORE, MD - 26 year old Sheldon Mitchell Walker died when the Triumvirate Environmental truck he was driving crashed through a fence and into a tree. Two passengers suffered serious injuries. Walked was taken to a local hospital when he died of his injuries. No cause of the crash was given.


Trucker Killed in Rollover

June 1, RIVERSIDE, CA - 43 year old Craig Doane of Phoenix, AZ was killed when the tractor trailer he was driving overturned, spilling his load of strawberries. He was taken to a local hospital where he died.


Passenger in Tractor Trailer Dies in Wreck

June 1, BRANDON, MS - 53 year old Terry Renard Devine was killed while riding in an 18-wheeler that crashed. He suffered head and chest trauma and died after being taken to a local hospital. He was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. The driver has not been identified.



Assistant Fire Chief Dies After Returning From Call

May 31, FLANDERS, NJ - 42 year old Thomas Shields died after responding to a call at a local school. After returning to the station, he went home ill and was taken to a local hospital after complaining of chest pains. Shields was Flanders Assistant Fire Chief and his death is being called the first line-of-duty death for the Flanders fire company since 1927.



Cab Driver Shot to Death

May 31, MOUNT VERNON, IL - 75 year old Charles Ellis, an employee for American Cab, died of a single gunshot to his head by three suspects who have been arrested. He was found inside his vehicle at 6th and Bell streets in Mount Vernon, according to a report from the Jefferson County coroner's office. No details to events leading up to the shooting have been released.



Worker Injured in Explosion Dies of Injuries

May 31, GALLATIN, TN - Eric Hulsey of Orlindo, who was injured May 27 in a flash fire at the Hoeganaes Corp. plant in Gallatin has died. Two other workers were critically injured in the incident. Hoeganaes officials said it appears this fire was sparked by a gas leak. Two flash fires earlier this year (that killed two employees) were caused by a buildup of flammable metal dust.



Freak Accident Kills Golf Course Worker

May 31, WATERLOO, IL - Willie Werling died of blunt force trauma to the head when the lawn mower he was driving at the Annbriar Golf Course rolled on top of him. As a grounds keeper, he was mowing the grass Tuesday morning when somehow, while moving from one hole to the next, he veered off the cart path down a hill. The coroner says Werling had no pre-existing medical problems, and may never know what caused him to veer off the path and drive down the hill.



Worked Killed in Industrial Incident

May 31, JACKSON, TN - 46 year old Dan Baxter lost his life while working at Elemental Holdings LLC facility Tuesday. Tennessee OSHA is on site conducting an investigation and details as to manner and cause of Baxter's death have not been released. Elemental Holdings makes aluminum blanks and slugs for the impact extrusion business at its facility on Dr. F. E. Wright Drive. Mr. Baxter leaves behind his wife and eight children.



Police Investigating Death of Business Owner

May 30, ROSEVILLE, CA - 44 year old Christopher Northam Sr. was shot and killed inside the Skim-X extreme sports water park that he co-owned with his sons. Police responded to a call about shots fired during an argument and found Northam. Police are calling his death a homicide and an investigation is continuing.


Worker Dies After Falling From Back of Trash Collection Truck

May 30, SEATTLE, WA - 31 year old Justin Schmidt died after he slipped and fell from the back of a trash collection truck. Schmidt was hanging onto the back of the truck but as the driver rounded a corner, Schmidt slipped and fell off the truck. He leaves behind a 5 year old son.



Young Man Dies Buried in Grain Silo

May 30, STANDISH, MI - 18 year old Tom Osier, a junior in high school, died Monday while working in a grain silo at a dairy farm near Standish. Police say Osier was inside the silo, knocking some of the corn loose that had stuck to the sides of the silo. Another worker went looking for him and found Osier buried in the grain at an opening at the bottom, but because of the weight of the corn, could not get him out. Fire personnel arrived but were unable to pull Osier to safety.


Worker Fatally Electrocuted

May 29, LAWRENCEVILLE, PA - 25 year old Arianto Dejesus of Bronx, NY was accidentally electrocuted at the Hitachi Metals Automotive Components plant in Lawrence Township Sunday night. Dejesus was working on the platform of an accordion industrial lift sometime Sunday when he came in contact with a high-voltage electric line, and was electrocuted. He was a contracted worker hired to work on the lighting system.



Police Officer Struck While Investigating Accident

May 29, HOUSTON, TX - 38 year old Officer Kevin S. Will was was killed early Sunday when a man drove around a police barricade and struck the officer as he was investigating a traffic accident, investigators said. The suspect was being pursued by other officers when he went around the barricade and struck Officer Will. The driver has been arrested and charged on a variety of charges.


Experienced Bull Rider Trampled During Rodeo

May 29, NEW CASTLE, DE - 40 year old Leonel Trejo, an experienced bull rider from New Castle, was thrown from a bull at a rodeo Sunday. He was not wearing protective chest equipment and the bull came down on his chest. He was transported to a local hospital where he died of his injuries.



Diner Owner Found Dead, Homicide Suspected

May 28, ROXBURY, NJ - 71 year old Chafic "Steve" Ezzeddine was found dead inside his Kenvil Diner by his wife after he failed to return home after work. Police are investigating his death as a homicide.



Explosion at Compressor Station Kills One

May 28, RED RIVER PARISH, LA - 47 year old Michael Anthony Tartt of Choudrant was killed in an explosion at a natural gas site Saturday. Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the explosion, but say it happened inside a series of pipes. A large amount of pressure was released and caused the damage, but there was no fire. The operator, TGGT Holding, has its emergency response team working with investigators and other officials to determine exactly what went wrong.



Police Officer Shot and Killed in Ambush

May 28, SAN ANTONIO, TX - 45 year old Sgt. Kenneth Vann was fatally shot during an apparent ambush while waiting at a traffic light in his marked patrol vehicle early Saturday. Vann was waiting at an intersection just after 2AM Saturday when a small white vehicle pulled up next to him on the right side and started shooting through the front passenger window. Witnesses called police, who discovered Vann dead in the driver's seat. Police say it appears to be an ambush as the officer had no time to even react.


Cabbie Shot and Killed With Intent

May 27, METAIRIE, LA - 52 year old William "Billy" Kerner IV was shot and killed by a man who called for a cab, intending on not paying the fare according to police. After Kerner delivered the suspect to his destination, the suspect shot Kerner in the face. When Kerner got out of his cab and began running, the suspect ran after him shooting him in the back several times. The suspect has been found and charged with murder.



Passenger in Tractor Trailer Killed in Crash

May 27, FT. WORTH, TX - 54 year old James Kenneth Newman of Justin was killed when the semi truck he was riding in went off the roadway and overturned. The truck was traveling northbound on Highway 67 when the 18 wheeler hauling another large truck left the road to the east and struck a steep embankment. The vehicle overturned, coming to rest on the drivers’ side, blocking the northbound traffic lane. Newman was pronounced dead at the scene and the driver was taken to a nearby hospital.


Semi Driver Dies of Unknown Reason

May 27, COLUMBUS, IN - 56 year old John D. Hall of Lebanon, MO died in a semitrailer crash on Friday. The southbound truck Hall was driving crossed the highway median at Friday, and came to rest in a ditch on the northbound side of I-65. The cause of the accident is not yet known and the crash is under investigation.


Double Fatality in Tractor Trailer Crash

May 26, DONEGAL, PA - 48 year old Pamela L. Sheperd and 48 year old Frank Edward Sheperd of Rome, GA were killed when their semi crashed Thursday. Both were riding in a tractor-trailer that clipped another tractor-trailer and then slammed into two parked tractor-trailers at the entrance ramp to the Interstate 70 Welcome Center in Donegal Township. Their vehicle then burst into flames that consumed the cab, leaving rescuers unable to reach them.


Police and OSHA Investigating Worker's Death

May 24, MOUNT HOLLY, NC - 46 year old Andrew "Butch" Evans of Gastonia was killed on Tuesday afternoon in a machine-related incident. He was an employee for National Gypsum Plant. Evans exact cause of death has not been released, however, he worked on the wall board production line for over 2 years. Evans leaves behind a wife and young daughter.


Man Killed in Oil Well Incident

May 24, VELMA, OK - 47 year old Robert Joseph Pasillas died while working on a pump jack near Claud School, northeast of Velma. Stephens County Sheriff Wayne McKinney said Pasillas, an employee for Basic Energy, was killed instantly when the pump jack he was working on began its press process. “He got trapped in the arms of the pump jack and it killed him instantly,” McKinney said.


Injured Worker Has Died of Injuries

May 23, FORT WAYNE, IN - 23 year old Michael Joseph Oberley II, who was injured in an industrial accident May 19 has died. Oberley was working as a machinist for AccuGear, an auto parts manufacturing plant. The cause or manner of his injuries have not been released but the parent company, America Axle & Manufacturing, said machinery was running when the incident happened.


Man Killed When Pinned in Equipment

May 22, NORTH EAST, MD - 41 year old Tuncay Tunc of St. Petersburg, FL was killed when he was crushed by industrial machinery he was hauling. Troopers say Tunc was hauling several pieces of machinery in a commercial truck when he heard a sound and pulled off the interstate to investigate. Tunc climbed onto the platform of a scissor lift and it started, rising and pinning him against the trailer's ceiling. The passenger of the truck called 911 when he saw what was happening.


Worker Dies a Hero While Helping Others Survive Tornado

May 22, JOPLIN, MO - 59 year old M."Dean" Wells was killed while trying to help Home Depot store customers and co-workers stay safe during a tornado. Witnesses said Wells guided co-workers and customers to the safest places inside the store, but was killed when a wall collapsed on top of him while searching about for others to help. Seven people died inside the store during the EF-5 tornado as it tore apart the store, but several others survived.











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