Weekly Toll

Farmer Died Doing What He Loved

August 25, NEW LIBERY, IA - 77 year old Donavon Sievers of Stockton died in an accident involving his tractor Thursday. His son said he farmed his whole life and said "This is the way he wanted to go." Sievers was hauling hay when the hitch connecting the hayrake broke. The weight and momentum of the hayrack pushed the tractor into a ditch. He was found lying next to his tractor.


Police Officer Dies of Injuries After Being Shot

August 25, ANNISTON, AL - 27 year old Justin Sollohub was shot while on patrol Wednesday. He died Thursday, after being kept on life support until his organs could be donated. Sollohub was on routine patrol and got out of his car to talk to a man, authorities said, then reported he was chasing a man on foot. He was shot after he went around a side of a house.


Electrician Dies on Construction Site

August 25, AMERICUS, GA - 21 year old Sean Scott of Leesburg, died after coming into contact with a live electrical wire at the Phoebe Sumter Hospital construction site in Americus. He then fell 12 to 15 feet from a ladder. Scott was an apprentice journeyman with Inglett and Stubbs Electrical Construction Company.


Migrant Farm Worker Dies in Tractor Rollover

August 25, BETHANY, NC - 25 year old Mario Andres Castillo Avena was killed when the farm tractor he was using to pull a trailer went off the roadway and rolled down an embankment. He died on the scene.


Tow Truck Driver Killed in Hit and Run

August 24, PASADENA, MD - 38 year old James Frederick Schrieber Jr. was killed today when he was struck by a vehicle while preparing a disabled vehicle for towing on Route 100. The driver of the red Nissan Pathfinder who struck Schrieber fled the scene and police are searching for that driver.



Two Restaurant Employees Killed by Co-Worker

August 24, DECATUR, AL - 50 year old Mark Graff of Huntsville, a night manager, and 23 year old Jesse Jose Aguilar of Decatur were shot to death inside the Krystal restaurant where they worked. A female employee reported to work at 5AM this morning to find one worker shot and the cash register open. Police were called and they found the second worker. Police say another employee who had worked at the restaurant for some time was arrested for the murders.


Farmer Dies in Machinery Accident

August 24, VILLARD, MN - 58 year old John Lanigan died in a farm accident in his wheat field Wednesday. Lanigan was found under his swather. No one knows exactly what lead to the accident, but neighbors remembered Lanigan for his hard work ethic and his passion for farming.


Cab Driver Found Stabbed to Death

August 23, HICKORY, NC - 32 year old Adam Todd Williams was found Tuesday night suffering stab wounds to the face and neck. Williams, an employee for Yellow Cab, was attacked by a known assailant. Williams went to a closed restaurant where the employees called for help. He was transported to a local hospital where he died. Police know who murdered Williams and are searching for him.


Worker Found Dead on Rooftop

August 23, MUSCATINE, IA - 42 year old Tim Baars was found dead Tuesday on the roof of the Muscatine Department of Public Works building. Baars was an employee for the department. It is unclear as to the means or cause of Baars death.


Wall Collapse at Historic Home Renovation Kills Worker

August 23, LOUISVILLE, KY - 33 year old James Laslie of Crestwood died when he was crushed under a concrete wall. Laslie was working on waterproofing the basement and was using a backhoe, then stepped into a six foot deep trench to remove dirt. According to a fire department spokesman, that work undermined three concrete walls surrounding a window which tilted away from the home. The walls crushed Laslie against the side wall of the open trench.


Livery Cab Driver Dies Months After Being Shot

August 23, BRONX, NY - 64 year old Julio Lora lost his battle for life after being shot by a passenger during a robbery March 31. Lora was shot in the head five times and has been on life support since. The gunman fled the brazen daylight robbery with Lora's wallet, which held $71, police said. He was captured after running into a nearby retirement home. He will now be charged with Lora's murder.


Maintenance Engineer Falls From Scaffold

August 23, ST. LOUIS, MO - 49 year old Mark Affsprung of Edwardsville was killed Tuesday after falling while he was working on an elevator shaft. Affsprung was a maintenance engineer at the Pinnacle owned Lumiere Place Casino complex. He was working on an elevator shaft in a parking garage when he fell from scaffolding.


Coin Dealer Robbed and Beaten to Death

August 23, BROOKLYN, NY - 61 year old Steve Halfon, owner of Liberty Coin Co., was locking up his store when he was ambushed by a group of thieves who pummeled him near his shop and dumped his battered body a mile away, police sources said. After beating him severely, the thieves dumped his body and abandoned his car a few blocks away. A passerby saw Halfon and called for help. It is unclear what the thieves got away with.


Young Rancher Trampled to Death

August 22, WHEELER, TX - 24 year old Justin Bradley died Monday after he was injured August 20 when several horses trampled him. Bradley's father says his son was knocked down and trampled when the horses turned as he was moving them toward a bucking chute Saturday. It is not clear what spooked the horses and made them run.


Tanker Driver Crashes Into Concrete Barrier

August 22, KINGSVILLE, TX - 66 year old Mike Oliver Jr. from Louisiana was killed when the tanker truck he was driving crashed into a concrete barrier Monday. Officials believe Oliver may have suffered a medical issue before losing control of the truck. When the truck hit the barrier the cab burst into flames but the tanker did not rupture of catch fire.


Transportation Worker Dies of Injuries

August 22, YORK, PA - 51 year old Michael Dillman of Littlestown has died of injuries he received on the job August 15. Dillman, an equipment operator in the York County Maintenance Office for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, died when the dump truck he was driving went off the road and overturned.


Worker Crushed on Conveyor Belt

August 22, EAST ST. LOUIS, IL - an unidentified 31 year old worker from Collinsville was killed instantly when he was crushed on a conveyor belt Monday morning. He sustained the fatal injuries after his legs got caught in a conveyor belt at Swansea Building Products, a concrete business. Officials say he was a temporary employee. UPDATE: Authorities have identified Thomas D. Wallace as the worker who was killed.


Worker Dies in Fall From Structure

August 22, OCHEYEDAN, IA - 33 year old Christopher Paulette of Spirit Lake died after he fell 60 feet while working inside a wind turbine Monday. Officials say Paulette was climbing a NextEra Energy wind turbine when he fell. No specifics are given as to cause of the fall. He was taken to a local hospital where he later died.


Road Worker Struck and Killed

August 22, WOODSTOCK, IL - 34 year old Ryan Nichols of Kenosha, IL was struck and killed by a car while working for the Illinois Department of Transportation in northern Illinois. Officials say Nichols was measuring the roadway when he was struck but wasn't in a construction zone.


Armored Truck Driver Shot During Robbery

August 21, MIAMI GARDENS, FL - 26 year old Alvaro Lopez Ramos was shot and killed by five armed robbers while on duty. Ramos, a US Citizen of just two months and an aspiring teacher, was a Brink's driver who was making a stop at Calder Casino and Race Course when the five suspects, who had been waiting on a bench, rushed Ramos and shots were fired. The five suspects have been apprehended and charged with Ramos' murder.


Worker Dies of Electric Shock in Attic

August 21, ORANGE, TX - 51 year old Toren Swift was electrocuted in an attic after he was hired to do work in a home the landlord was planning to rent out. The landlord reported hearing noises coming from the attic as if someone was in distress. The owner called 9-1-1 and emergency responders discovered Swift in the attic.


Wing Walker at Air Show Falls To His Death

August 21, SELFRIDGE, MI - Todd Green, an experienced "wing walker" died after falling 200 feet from the wing of a stunt plane as he was attempting to grab onto a helicopter. He was performing for a crowd at the Selfridge Air Show at Selfridge Air National Guard base. Green completed the act earlier in the day.


Grocery Store Worker Stabbed to Death

August 21, SANTA MONICA, CA - 46 year old Christina Talley died after being attacked in a check out line at an Albertson's store where she was working. The attacker came into the store, with a hood over his head, and began beating and stabbing Talley. Her estranged husband has been apprehended and will be charged with her murder.


Worker Dies at Distribution Center

August 21, OAK GROVE, KY - 64 year old Robert Tillman died Sunday morning while operating a forklift at the Walmart Distribution Center. Witnesses said they saw Tillman slump over on the forklift. He was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.


Plane Pilot Dies in Crash

August 21, MARSHALL, MI - 59 year old John Andrew Hoffman died after his tow plane crashed into a field Sunday. Hoffman's plane had just towed a glider into the sky over southern Calhoun County when it began to malfunction and the glider pilot released the cable. The plane then spiraled into a field next to the airport. Hoffman was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead of severe head injuries.


Longshoreman Dies From Fall

August 20, PORT RICHMOND, PA - 54 year old Vernon Knight of Philadelphia died Saturday when he fell from an upper deck while unloading a ship at Tioga Marine Terminal in Port Richmond. Knight, a member of Local 1291 (ILA), fell from a pontoon in the upper deck of No. 2 hatch to the lower hold while he was giving signals to a crane operator via radio.


Man Dies in Industrial Machine Incident

August 20, GARDEN GROVE, CA - 49 year old Tuan Phan, a machine operator for American Apparel, died after being crushed in a circular knitting machine. No specifics as to how Phan became trapped in the machine were released.


Farmer Trapped Under Tractor Dies

August 20, BRACEVILLE, OH - Ray Davis, a longtime member of the Trumbull County Farm Bureau, died Saturday after he was pinned under a tractor on his property, off of Herr Fieldhouse Road, in Braceville township. No details as to manner are given.


Worker Killed at Fort Benning

August 20, FORT BENNING, GA - Jessie L. Allen as a result of an accident at a road construction site on Fort Benning, GA. Allen was inspecting a project that will expand Dixie Road from two lanes to four lanes when he was struck by a dump truck. He was a construction control inspector for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District.


Pilot of Spray Plane Dies in Crash

August 20, WHITEWOOD, IA - 64 year old Loren L. Ring of Rapid City died when the spray plane he was piloting crashed near Whitewood Saturday. Ring had 30 years of flying experience and while he was in excellent health, his family hasn't ruled out the possibility of a medical episode as the cause of the crash.


Flight Instructor & Student Killed in Crash

August 19, TITUSVILLE, PA - 43 year old Dale Stearns, a flight instructor, was killed along with a flight student, when their plane crashed just after midnight on Saturday. They had a flight path scheduled but the plane crashed into trees in heavy fog about a half mile from the Titusville airport. The plane caught on fire and both men were killed.



Pilot Dies in Air Show Crash

August 20, KANSAS CITY, MO - Bryan Jensen died when the aerobatics bi-plane he was flying in the Kansas City Air Show crashed. A witness video showed Jensen's plane spiraling downward and crashing in flames in the area of a runway at the Charles B. Wheeler airport.


Prison Employee Dies From Electric Shock

August 19, CHARLESTON, MO - 39 year old Michael Walker died after an apparent electric shock in the food service area of the prison in Charleston. He was a maintenance supervisor for the Department of Corrections since 2007. Authorities have declined to specify the circumstances surrounding Walker's death.


Employee Dies When Truck Crashes Into Business

August 19, GALLUP, NM - 42 year old Laura Bitsid was killed Friday when a tanker truck crashed into the side of the Sun Loans building where she worked. The truck's driver clipped a pick-up on Interstate 40, which caused him to lose control. His big rig swerved into a parking lot, up an embankment and crashed into two vehicles before crashing into the building.


Tractor Trailer Driver Killed in Collision

August 19, WEST HARTFORD, CT - John Dilliplane of Pennsylvania was killed when his semi truck collided with a wrecker hauling a trailer. Dilliplane's truck then crashed through a guard rail. He died on the scene. The driver of the wrecker suffered non-life threatening injuries.


Shipyard Worker Crushed to Death

August 19, JEFFERSONVILLE, IN - 54 year old Steve Duncan of Pekin died after being pinned against a barge by a piece of equipment at Jeffboat. Duncan was working on a machine called a buggy, which has a hydraulic lift, when it moved and pinned him against the barge. Jeffboat is the nation's largest inland shipbuilder and repair facility and is owned and operated by American Commercial Lines.


Worker Dies Weeks After Being Injured

August 19, PENSACOLA, FL - 64 year old Jerry Milam has died after suffering injuries in a mower incident on July 26. Milam, an Escambia County worker, was mowing grass on the shoulder of Olive Road when his tractor flipped about 15 feet into a ditch that was hidden by overgrowth, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report. Milam was trapped for several hours before a passing pedestrian noticed and called for help.


Cemetery Maintenance Worker Dies in Incident

August 19, LANSING, IL - 40 year old Francisco Chavez of Downers Grove died when a lawnmower fell off a jack and onto his head. Chavez was a maintenance worker for Oak Ridge Cemetery and was attempting to fix a hydraulic pump on a lawnmower when it slipped off the jack. He was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.


Worker Dies in Industrial Incident

August 18, FARGO, ND - 49 year old Noren Ellingson died Thursday from injuries he received Tuesday when a steel bin fell onto him. Ellingson suffered traumatic brain injury when the metal bin–similar to a commercial Dumpster–was being loaded onto a truck when it slipped and landed on him. Ellingson was an employee of Buhler Industries, a Winnipeg-based company that manufactures and distributes agricultural equipment.


Worker Killed in Water Tower Explosion

August 16, TOMBALL, TX - an unidentified worker died from an explosion at a water tower. He was a contractor from a water well company there to perform routine maintenance and was using a welder to cut a hole in the lid when the explosion happened. The force of the explosion ripped the lid off the well. He was transported to a nearby hospital where he died.


Miner Killed in Roof Rock Fall

August 15, SHARPLES, WV - 46 year old Charles M. Hall of Williamson died after he was struck by falling rock in the Mountaineer II Mine near Sharples in Logan County. Hall was installing roof supports there Monday when struck by falling rock. He was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. The mine is owned by Mingo Logan Coal Co., a subsidiary of St. Louis-based Arch Coal.


Longshoreman Killed in New Jersey

August 15, NEWARK, NJ - Don Delia, a longshoreman for ILA Local 1804-1, died in an incident at Port Newark. Details of the accident were not available.


Ranch Worker Dies in Bulldozer Accident

August 7, BRECKENRIDGE, TX - 63 year old Howard Larson Wampler died after being pinned under a CAT dozer on Bob Cook Ranch. Wampler was operating a D6 bulldozer, which was attempting to pull the 4-ton vehicle up a steep incline when the dozer reared up, causing the chain pulling the 4-ton dozer to snap. The seat Wampler occupied and a fuel tank were then ejected from the 6-ton dozer, which rolled down the incline and pinned Wampler man, who was killed instantly.










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Construction Truck Backs Into, Kills Man

August 18, SEARSPORT, ME - 58 year old Weston "Wes" B. Haskell III of Frankfort was killed on a construction site when a dump truck backed into him. Haskell was working on a water utility project when the truck driven by an employee of RF Jordan Construction of Ellsworth backed into him, killing him instantly. Haskell worked for the engineering firm, AE Hodson based in Waterville.


Commercial Vehicle Driver Killed in Rollover

August 18, NORTH ATTLEBORO, MA - 49 year old La Phan of Plymouth was killed when the refrigerated van he was driving crashed off the I-95. He was driving a van for Humarock Fish Co. of Hanover.


Gas Worker Found Dead

August 18, JAMES CITY, NC - Frank Birdsong, an employee for Jenkins Gas, was found laying over an open manhole. He was servicing a gas line because of a possible leak. Officials will determine whether he died from the gas leak or a possible medical condition. Another gas leak at the same location an hour later caused evacuations due to about 500 gallons of propane leaking and shooting approximately 30 feet in the air.


Fish and Wildlife Worker Dies Conducting Survey

August 18, CARSON, WA - 47 year old Mark Snepp of White Salmon was found dead in the upper Wind River. Snepp and another employee were conducting a fish survey for U.S. Fish & Wildlife when he became briefly separated from his partner. Snepp was found in about two feet of water. He had been wearing a life jacket, scuba mask and snorkel for the work.


Tractor Trailer Driver Hit Own Rig Dies

August 17, SALEM, OR - 54 year old Dean Leslie Pollard of Portland died Wednesday when he was struck by his semi. Pollard pulled into a small shopping mall to ask for directions and while inside a store, noticed his rig rolling forward. Pollard raced outside and in an attempt to stop the vehicle he was run over. Pollard had been a long-time driver for Christenson Oil of Portland.


Road Worker Killed by Driver Trying to Pass

August 17, JASPER, TX - 23 year old Michael Allen Lorie died after a motorist went around others stopped for road construction and struck him while he worked on Highway 105 near Evadale. TxDOT spokesman Marc Shepherd says Lorrie was working for a company called EaglePro, which is a Beaumont based engineering firm hired out by APAC to make base repairs to the highway's foundation.


Dozer Operator Dies When Ground Under Collapses

August 17, ANCHORAGE, AK - Jack Button of Big Lake died Wednesday when the ground collapsed under his dozer, sending him into the water at the Port of Anchorage. He was able to jump from the machine but was trapped in the debris. Button worked many years for West Construction who had been hired to assess the damage done under another contractor on the port expansion. Button was moving earth so steel sheets could be inspected when the ground gave way under him.


Worker Crushed Under Car

August 17, PLYMOUTH, IN - 46 year old Brian K. Lehiy of Plymouth when the car he was working under fell and crushed him. Lehiy was an employee for Hundt's Auto Salvage.


Tree Service Worker Killed

August 17, DANIELSVILLE, GA - 26 year old Christopher Welch of Watkinsville died while working to cut down a tree in Madison County. Welch was in the tree in a private yard along Nowhere Road when he became pinned by part of the tree while he was cutting it down. A fellow worker in a crane tried to free Welch but he died at the scene.


Fire Chief Dies After Fighting House Fire

August 16, LANCASTER, SC - 54 year old Dennis J. Cauthen, Fire Chief for Elgin Volunteer Fire Department, died at a local hospital after returning from fighting a house fire. Cauthen complained of feeling "heart burn" pains while at the fire. The pains got worse after returning to the station and he was taken to a local hospital where he died. A specific cause of death is not given.


Young Amish Farmer Dies in Tragic Accident

August 16, CADIZ, KY - 19 year old Benuel Stoltzfus of the Linton area of Cadiz died in an accident involving a piece of farm equipment Tuesday. Stoltzfus was using a chipper to make silage when he lost his balance and fell onto the conveyor belt and into the machine, police said. He died at the scene.


Passenger in Tractor Trailer Dies

August 16, WILMINGTON, MA - 32 year old Cristian F. Hernandez-Giron of Central Falls, RI was killed when he was trapped inside a wrecked semi. For an unexplained reason a van owned by a painting company swerved across all lanes of traffic on I-93 and into the semi, sending it out of control and rolling into the median.


Officer Dies When Car Rammed by Suspect

August 16, CARUTHERSVILLE, MO - 28 year old Officer Evans Burns was killed when his cruiser was rammed by a suspect attempting to flee officers. Burns and another officer were setting up spike strips to stop a man in a stolen vehicle when the suspect rammed the vehicle into one officer, who was injured, before ramming into Burns' cruiser. Burns died on impact. The suspect is in custody and faces murder charges.


Man Killed When Riding Lawn Mower Flips

August 16, SHAWNEE, PA - 69 year old Wayne D. Mitchell of East Stroudsburg was killed when a riding lawn mower he was operating flipped at the Shawnee Inn. He was mowing the grass on the Blue Course when he made a turn at the edge of an embankment. The mower rolled over sideways down the embankment with him still in the seat. The mower rolled over Mitchell, who was discovered by a co-worker minutes later.


Offshore Worker Killed in Crane Collapse

August 16, GALVESTON AREA, TX - 20 year old Brandon Noland of Katy, TX died while working on an offshore production platform. Noland was working on Energy Resource Technology's High Island (HI) Block A557 Platform A when a crane failed, and collapsed onto Noland. The crane was being used to offload a large piece of equipment when a boom hoist cable failed and a series of events caused the crane to collapse.


Farming Accident Kills Woman Helping Husband

August 16, MERRILL, WI - 38 year old Tonya L. Schug died Tuesday after falling from a hay trailer being towed by her husband. A preliminary investigation showed Schug was riding on a hay wagon, fell off and was run over, according to the Sheriff's Department.


Road Worker Killed by Asleep-at-the-Wheel Driver

August 15, TAHLEQUAH, OK - 43 year old Ruben Quezada Garcia was killed when a driver who had fallen asleep behind the wheel rammed into the back of a Glover Construction truck pulling a trailer with a flashing arrow board on the back, warning drivers to move to the other lane. The impact caused the truck to be propelled forward into Garcia. Garcia's co-worker was sitting in the construction truck that was hit and was injured in the crash.


Workers Electrocuted, One Dies

August 15, MIDDLEPORT, OH - 35 year old Christian (Chris) Styler of Pomeroy died and his cousin was injured when a gutter they were attempting to install came into contact with an electrical power line. Styler, owner of the business, and his cousin were installing a gutter at Manley's Recycling Center in Middleport. Reports say they were on the roof when they came upon a yellow jacket's nest and most likely due to being startled by the encounter, they touched the power line.


Billboard Worker Falls to His Death

August 15, ARLINGTON, TX - 40 year old John Burnette of Boyd has died after falling about 30 feet from a sign near Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Burnette apparently lost his footing and fell. It was not clear if he was wearing a safety harness. UPDATE: New reports are confirming that Burnette was wearing a safety harness when he fell from the billboard. It is still unclear how he lost his footing.


Miner Killed in Roof Collapse

August 15, LOGAN COUNTY, WV - 46 year old Charles M. Hall of Williamson died as the result of a roof collapse at Mingo Logan Coal Company's Mountaineer #2 mine. Hall was assisting in a longwall equipment move, installing roof supports when he was struck by falling rock. Federal and state mine safety officials are investigating.


Worker Killed in Incident at Construction Company

August 15, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX - 31 year old Michael Bustoz died after being hit and trapped under a beam that fell onto him. A close family friend of Bustoz says he had just walked out of a building onto the property when he was suddenly hit by a beam and trapped underneath. Co-workers rushed to his side, actually lifting the beam up just enough to pull him out but he died after being rushed to a local hospital.


Siding Contractor Electrocuted

August 15, FRIDLEY, MN - 51 year old Rich Hennen of Inver Grover Heights was electrocuted while working in an aerial lift at an apartment complex in Fridley. According to police, Hennen, owner of Hennen Siding, was on and controlling an aerial lift replacing flashing when his neck came in contact with an Xcel Energy power line. He died instantly.


Corporation Employee Dies of Injuries

August 15, MURRAY, KY - 47 year old Bobby Robinson died of unspecified injures he received at Wickliffe's NewPage Corporation facility. Robinson was in the Power and Recovery area of the facility when he was injured. He was airlifted to Vanderbilt hospital in Nashville, TN for treatment. He died at the hospital.


Worker Dies in Industrial Incident

August 15, SEADRIFT, TX - 54 year old Arthur Gahagan of Victoria died in an on-site accident at Dow Chemical Seadrift Operations. Gahagan was working to unplug a line stoppage when some kind of blow-out occurred. Someone heard a loud bang and found Gahagan, who was working alone, dead when they went to check on him.


County Worker Dies When Mower Overturns

August 15, TERRE HAUTE, IN - Earl Slavens, a 33 year veteran employee for Vigo County Parks & Recreation, died after being pinned down by a lawn mower in Prairie Creek Park. Officials say Slavens lost control of the mower and it tipped over into a pond. He was trapped under the mower, in the pond, for about 30 minutes before they were able to recover his body.


Teen Dies Working on Construction Site

August 15, OSGOOD, OH - 16 year old Damon Springer of Celina was killed when he was struck by a bobcat front end loader while working on a site in Osgood. Springer was working for his family's company, Springer Sons Tree Service LLC, who was sub-contracted to remove trees from the construction site. Springer's father did not see his son and accidentally back into him with the equipment.


Man Crushed to Death at Bakery

August 15, EL SERENO, CA - 57 year old Rigoberto Yanez of Los Angeles was killed when he was crushed under a metal gate at Chimentis Bakery Co. in El Sereno. Yanez was opening a gate at the bakery when it somehow came off its track and fell on Yanez. Cal-OSHA is investigating.


City Worker Dies in Lawnmower Incident

August 15, WINGATE, NC - Felinda Thompson has been identified by her son as having died in an incident involving a large lawnmower that flipped over, trapping her underneath. She was an employee for Town of Wingate Public Works Department. It appears the landscaping equipment flipped over into a pile of brush not far from the pavement.


Firefighter Dies as Roof Collapses

August 14, DALLAS, TX - 41 year old Lt. Todd Krodle died on Sunday night while battling an apartment complex fire in the Oak Cliff neighborhood. Witnesses said Krodle was working on the roof when it collapsed under him, sending Krodle into the burning building. He leaves behind a wife and two children.


Cab Driver Shot and Killed

August 14, NEW FRANKLIN, OH - 61 year old Jerry Laury of Canton was shot and killed Sunday afternoon. Few details are known but police say Laury was shot in a parking lot and that one person has been arrested for his murder.


Train Inspector Dies After Touching Rail

August 14, BABYLON, NY - Russell E. DeCeck, a 28 year employee for The Long Island Rail Road, died after apparently touching the electrified third rail in the railroad's Babylon yard. He died after being taken to a local hospital. Officials are not clear as to the exact manner of DeCeck's death.


Worker Dies of Burns From Explosion

August 13, SOMERSET, PA - 50 year old George Rockwell Rininger of Hootersville died Saturday of burns he received in an explosion Friday at Kantner Iron & Steel. Rininger was cutting the lock off a large steel box which was not marked with any warnings of explosives. It turned out to contain between 50 and 100 pounds of black powder and exploded. It came from a farm near Meyersdale on Friday.


Worker Dies of Heat Related Illness

August 13, BRONSON, FL - 46 year old James Cobb died Saturday after collapsing while working on August 4. Cobb, an employee for Bronson Public Works Department had been working outdoors when he collapsed. He was rushed to a local hospital with an extremely high temperature.


One Killed as Street Sweeper Flips

August 13, ABERDEEN, MS - 63 year old Dianne Tapley of Verona died when the street sweeper she was driving went off the road and flipped several times. She was ejected from the machine and died at the scene.


Stagehand Dies in Collapse at Indiana State Fair

August 13, INDIANAPOLIS, IN - 51 year old Nathan Byrd died, along with four other people, when the giant stage at the Indiana State Fair collapsed in a sudden violent storm. "He liked being high and looking down at the concert and dimming the lights. He was the best light man they had," said Byrd's sister.


Security Guard Among Dead at Indiana State Fair

August 13, INDIANAPOLIS, IN - 51 year old Glenn Goodrich died when the massive Indiana State Fair concert stage collapsed during a sudden storm. A neighbor of Goodrich's, who was at the fair, heard Goodrich saved a mother and her young daughter before he was killed. That account has not been confirmed but it wouldn't surprise the neighbor.


Aircraft Worker Dies Following Incident

August 13, WICHITA, KS - Jerry Milligan, an employee of Spirit Aerosystems, died Saturday of unspecified injuries he suffered August 11. No details of the incident were given but Milligan died when he and other workers were moving a fuselage panel.


Tragedy at Marine Terminal

August 12, PHILADELPHIA, PA - 54 year old Charles DiRago of Wenonah, NJ died of unspecified injuries at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in South Philadelphia. DiRago was a longshoreman at the marine terminal. According to reports, a container ship had just come in and unloading had just begun. OSHA is investigating.


Tractor Trailer Driver Dies in Crash

August 12, DUCHESNE, UT - 44 year old Paul Ray Gallegos of Spanish Fork died after losing control of his semi in Indian Canyon. Gallegos' truck crossed the center line, left the roadway and partially rolled down an embankment. He died at the scene.


Worker Inside Manhole Dies

August 12, ASTON, PA - Larry Fisher died and another employee overcome at a wet well at Southwest Delaware County Municipal Authority’s Team Road pumping station. According to a press release, Fisher was with another worker in the wet well to clean a valve when the accident occurred. Fisher and the other man fell unconscious while in the well. Fisher died on the scene and the other employee was taken to an area hospital.


Firefighter Dies While at Station

August 12, DEL RIO, TX - 61 year old Lt. Larry G. Nelson died Friday when he fell from a small step ladder while at the Val Verde County Fire Station. The cause of his death is still undetermined.


Amish Man Dies in Farming Accident

August 12, NOTTAWA, MI - 38 year old Daniel Yoder was killed when he was crushed under a wagon that had broken away from a horse drawn carriage. According to authorities, the yoke between the two horses broke allowing the tongue of the trailer. The wagon was loaded with hay and went out of control and off the enbankment on the north side of the road. Yoder fell off or tried to jump and was run over by the wagon.


EMT Suffers Heart Attack While on Call

August 11, HIGHLAND, IL - Charles Black of Chicago died of heart failure while on a call in Highland Thursday. Black and his partner were assisting another unit carrying a heavy patient into his home when Black collapsed. He was treated at the scene and transported to an area hospital where doctors continued to work on him without success.


Construction Worker Electrocuted

August 11, CAMARILLO, CA - 32 year old Hiram Canales of Oxnard was electrocuted after he touched a high voltage wires while working on the roof of a home in Camarillo. Canales was taking apart a chimney when he touched the wires with a piece of metal and was shocked. He was taken to a local hospital where he died.


Horse Trained Killed When Kicked by Horse

August 11, PORTLAND MEADOWS, OR - 62 year old Charlynn Taketa, a horse trainer, died after being kicked by a loose horse at Portland Meadows race track Thursday. Taketa was leading her own horse when she was kicked in the head by the loose horse. Taketa's husband, who was also a horse trainer, was on site when his wife died.


Gas Station Owner Shot to Death

August 11, MIAMI GARDENS, FL - 58 year old Rabia Mahmood, owner of Amerika Gas Station and Food Mart, was gunned down while sitting in his car outside the store. Police believe it was a robbery gone wrong although it appears nothing was stolen. He was transported to an area hospital where he was died.


OSHA to Investigate Fatal Drilling Incident

August 11, ASPEN, CO - 39 year old Greg Watson of Minnesota died after his safety cord became tangled around the pole of a rock-drilling machine at a construction site. Watson was attempting to fix the horizontal rock-drill which was not working at the time. When it turned on the man's fall-prevention cord became caught in the drill's poll, twisting him around and mangling his body.


Officer Killed During Domestic Dispute Call

August 11, FREEMANSBURG, PA - 31 year old Robert Lasso was shot in the head Thursday as he responded to a call for domestic dispute. According to police, the homeowner shot Lasso when he pointed a stun gun on the man's dogs. The suspect is is being held without bail.


State Forest Firefighter Killed

August 11, EDGEMONT, SD - 23 year old Trampus Haskvitz of Hot Springs died while fighting the Coal Canyon fire on U.S. Forest service land. Haskvitz died as a result of injuries he suffered, when the type six fire engine he was working on was burned over by the blaze. Two other firefighters were injured and taken to a regional hospital.


Tanker Tips, Crushes Worker in Truck

August 11, ROGERS, AR - Lathen Cox died Thursday when a tanker truck owned by Anderson Gas, somehow tipped over and crushed the Cox Communication Cable truck Mr. Cox was driving. Authorities say it appears the tanker driver hit a car and went into a swerve motion when the truck tipped onto Cox's truck.


Tower Worker Falls to His Death

August 11, TOPEKA, KS - 21 year old Jacob Von Kopfman died from injuries he received in a fall from a communications structure. Kopfman was a tower tech working for Hayden Tower Services at the time of his death.


Land Trust Steward Found Shot to Death

August 11, WESTPORT, CA - 45 year old Matthew Coleman of the Albion and Little River area was found shot to death while working on a remote Mendocino Coast ranch owned by Save the Redwoods League. Coleman worked for Mendocino Land Trust who was contracted to maintain the ranch and property. It is unknown at this time who took Coleman's life or why.


Logging Accident Kills Logger

August 11, MANCHESTER, MI - 40 year old Stanley Grubaugh of St Johns died while cutting trees in a wooded area near Manchester. A tree Grubaugh cut fell into another tree, and a limb from that one fell and struck him, a family member said. Grubaugh was co-owner of S&J Logging.


Stray Bullet Kills Market Worker

August 11, CHICAGO, IL - 41 year old Alfredo Cuellar Chavez died after a bullet meant for someone else hit him in the chest while working at his uncle's Margarita's Meat Market. According to reports, two young men were fleeing someone chasing them in an SUV and ducked into the market, after being chased out of the uncle's pizzeria two doors down. Cuellar was carrying ice into the market when a bullet struck him in the chest. He died in the ambulance on the way to a local hospital.


Truck Driver Dies in Crash

August 11, LEBANON, IN - 23 year old Cesar Rodriguez of Chicago, IL died when he drove his semi into the back of another tractor trailer rig. Traffic had stopped in a construction zone but Rodriguez did not slow down. Authorities do not know why he didn't stop.


Man Dies in Tree Trimming Incident

August 11, GLEN BURNIE, MD - 24 year old Elmer Andreas Galdamez died while trimming trees in Forest Hills. Police say he was trapped 30 feet in the air between a fallen limb and the truck of the tree.


Man Crushed Under Tractor That Flipped Over

August 10, BEAUMONT, TX - 65 year old Spencer Lee Wilson died when a tractor he was driving flipped and landed on top of him. He was driving a tractor over a large mound when it flipped over backward and trapped Wilson, according to police. Wilson was employed for Beaumont Independent School District.


Man Hit and Killed While Cutting Grass

August 10, LINCOLNTON, NC - Clarence Herman Stroup died after being struck by a hit and run driver Wednesday. Stroup was working using a weed trimmer in a grassy area of the Lincolnton Plaza Shopping Center when a pickup truck left the roadway and struck Stroup. Police are in contact with the driver.


Tractor Trailer Crash Fatal For Driver

August 10, MYRTLE POINT, OR - 39 year old Allen Hoogerhyde of Myrtle Creek died when he lost control of his rig in a curve and crashed off the highway. Hoogerhyde was pulling two loaded chip hauler trailers when he failed to negotiate a curve. He crossed the center line, went through a guardrail, crashing into a bridge railing before going over embankment and hitting a utility pole. He died on scene.


Tow Truck Worker Dies of Heat Stress

August 10, AUSTIN, TX - 60 year old Melvin Wayne Moore died of hyperthermia Wednesday, a day after telling his family that Tuesday (9th) would be the last day he would work with no air conditioning and a hole in the floor of the truck. He was seen collapsing next to his tow truck later that day. He had been working under those conditions for several days. He was taken to an area hospital but it was determined that he suffered brain damage and died Wednesday morning.


Worker Dies in Fall

August 9, GUTTENBERG, NJ - 47 year old Juan Cantana Barrera of Jersey City died after falling doing repairs on an apartment in Guttenberg. Barrera and others were working to replace guard rails and a staircase for which the landlord did not have any permits.


School Custodian Dies From Fall Injuries

August 8, WATERVLIET, MI - 53 year old Phil Dillenbeck has died after suffering injuries due to a fall. Dillenbeck, a 31 year custodian for Watervliet School District, had slipped and fallen earlier in the day at the school, and later died at a local hospital.


Construction Worker Dies of Fall

August 8, QUANITCO, VA - 19 year old Kyle Ashton Sullivan of Spotsylvania died after falling 40 feet Monday at a construction site on Quantico Marine Corps base. Sullivan was a civilian worker for Harkin Builders.


Firefighter Dies After Collapse

August 5, CEDAR LAKE, IN - Firefighter Tim White died Friday after he collapsed from unspecified medical issues. White was hospitalized after falling ill July 17 during technical rescue training and seemed to be improving but died suddenly Friday.


Tower Technician Falls From Structure

August 3, HOLLISTER, NC - 18 year old Keith Joshua Caleb Stull of Pinnacle died after a fall from a United States Cellular Corporation self supporting tower. He fell approximately 50 feet. He was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was employed by Sink Tower Erection Company.


Experienced Tree Trimmer Dies in Fall

August 3, OCEAN CITY, MD - Jeremy Bostick, possibly from Bishopville, died when he fell 75 feet while trimming a tree. Bostick was working on a pine tree and was rappelling 20 feet down the side of the trunk from a high spot, readying the next section of tree for removal. As he leaned back, the rope securing him slipped out of its three-inch-deep notch. Bostick fell 75 feet to his death. Bostick loved his work and trees so much that he was studying to be an arborist.











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Tractor Trailer Driver and Passenger Die in Crash

August 10, JASPER COUNTY, IN - 59 year old Dennis Mattern and 57 year old Debra J. Moon, both of Manchester, TN died in a crash that involved two other semi's on I-65 in Jasper County. Mattern was driving a semi and failed to slow the rig for road construction that was reduced to one lane. He was driving at a high rate of speed when he slammed his rig into the back of another semi who was pushed into yet another semi. Mattern died at the scene as did Moon who was in the sleeper compartment of the truck. The other drivers were not seriously injured.


Man Mowing Weeds Struck by Semi

August 10, SCOTT COUNTY, VA - 46 year old Gary P. Meade of Nickelsville was killed when a tractor trailer driver hit the tractor-mower he was driving along Route 23 in Scott County. Meade was mowing the grass in the right shoulder when it was struck in the side by a northbound tractor-trailer. The impact of the crash split the tractor in half. The driver of the tractor was thrown from the vehicle and died at the scene.


Mechanic Killed as Car Falls Off Lift

August 10, WALTON, KY - 50 year old Sheldon Gebhardt of Elsmere, a mechanic for Walton Imported Motors, was killed while he was working under a car that was up on a lift. Gebhardt was working on a car that was on a mechanical lift when the front of the car slipped and pinned him underneath it, killing him. No other information is available.


Worker Trapped, Dies in Equipment

August 10, FOND DU LAC, WI - 34 year old Daniel V. Lehner died in an industrial incident Wednesday at Sadoff & Rudoy Industries. Police and firefighters arrived to find Lehner trapped inside a piece of equipment. He was extracted but died at the scene. No other details were given.


Semi Driver Dies Trapped Under Wreckage

August 10, MINNEAPOLIS, MN - 62 year old Glen Johnson of Colfax, WI was killed when his semi struck a light pole and overturned going into the Lowry Tunnel Wednesday. Johnson was trapped in the wreckage and died at the scene.


School Principle Killed in Classroom

August 10, MEMPHIS, TN - 49 year old Suzette York, Principle of Memphis Jr Academy, was found dead in a classroom Wednesday and a 17 year old boy has been arrested. An investigation is ongoing and authorities have not issued an exact cause of death except to say she was wounded. Media reports say she was stabbed but that has not been confirmed.


Store Clerk Gunned Down in Robbery

August 9, BROWARD COUNTY, FL - 25 year old Clairemathe Geffrard, a clerk for a check cashing store, was shot to death in a robbery. As police arrived the suspect fled, killing a bystander before being apprehended by police. Geffrard leaves behind a husband of one year and a young son.


Oil Rig Worker Killed by Falling Pipes

August 9, HIGH ISLAND, TX - 56 year old Ralph Hudspeth of College Station was killed while dismantling an oil rig. The sheriff's department said Hudspeth was standing next to a forklift that was holding a load of pipes. The pipe shifted and fell onto Hudspeth. He died of blunt force trauma to the chest.


UPS Driver Killed in Storm Accident

August 9, AUBURN, IN - 45 year old Todd Alber of Fort Wayne was killed when a tree uprooted during a storm and fell onto the UPS truck he was driving in Auburn, crushing him. A National Weather Service spokesman said it was a “microburst” – brief, intense, localized straight-line winds – that sent the branch onto Alber’s truck. The wind took down multiple trees on Seventh Street, he said.


Worker Died of Gunshot Meant for Another

August 9, RIVERTON, WV - Tony Stiles was shot and killed by a man who went to Hinkle Trucking to kill his girlfriend. Reports say a man went to the trucking business to shot his girlfriend when Stiles was caught in the crossfire. He was shot in the throat and died. The shooter then committed suicide. Stiles was not involved in any way with the individuals involved.



Power Lineman Dies of Electrocution

August 9, TIFTON, GA - 48 year old Steven Broadus Sellers, a lineman for Georgia Power, died while trying to restore power after a storm. He was doing storm (power) restoration when he apparently came into contact with a wire and was electrocuted. The exact cause or reason is unknown at this time.


Farm Worker Killed by Equipment

August 9, VERONA, MI - 34 year old William "Billy" Lubeski of Bad Axe died while working on a farm tiling project. He was using a backhoe that somehow backed over him. Lubeski was able to call for help and he was transported to an area hospital, however, due to the nature of his injuries he was life flighted to another hospital where he died of those injuries.


Store Manager Shot and Killed by Employee

August 9, BRATTLEBORO, VT - 59 year old Michael Martin of Dummerston was shot and killed at the Brattleboro Food Co-Op where he was store manager. He was killed shortly after opening the store Tuesday. Police have arrested another employee for the murder of Martin. No motive for the shooting has been confirmed.




Gravel Pit Worker Dies in Machinery

August 9, FAIRFAX, MN - 24 year old Aaron D. Kaufmann of Hutchinson died Tuesday in an industrial incident at a gravel pit near Fairfax. Authorities say Kaufmann became entangled in a piece of machinery and suffered an amputation. When rescue personnel arrived they found he was no longer in the machine but were not able to revive him.




Driver Killed in Logging Truck Accident

August 8, WHITEHALL, CA - 50 year old Steven John Edwards of Pollock Pines died when his logging truck crashed into the American River between Whitehall and Kyburz. The rig ended up partially in the water, spilling logs and fuel. The cab of the truck remained out of the river, but the driver was pinned inside the wreckage, said CHP officer Rich Wetzel.


Two Trucks Collide, One Driver Dies

August 8, MOUNT GILEAD, OH - 49 year old Damian M. Simon of Mount Vernon was killed when his Knox County dump truck collided with a cement truck that had overturned on a curve. The overturned cement truck slid into the on-coming lane that Simon was in, hitting head on. Simon was taken to a local hospital when he was pronounced dead.


Industrial Truck Crash Kills Driver

August 8, MOUNDSVILLE, WV - 42 year old Brian DiVittorio of Wintersville was killed when the Ecologic Environmental Services truck he was driving went off the roadway and down an embankment. DiVittorio had just left the Trans Energy Well's Whipkey Pad near Cameron and was on his way to the Wetzel County Landfill when he went around a turn, lost control, hit a guardrail and plunged over a hill about 80 to 100 feet.


Female Truck Driver Killed in Wreck

August 8, HAGERSTOWN, MD - 56 year old Corethia Areia Cross of Dundalk was killed when a tow truck slammed into her disabled semi that was on the shoulder of the roadway. Cross was a co-driver of the semi owned by Gunthers Enterprises. She and the other driver were attempting to make repairs to their truck when a tow truck slammed into the back of the trailer. The impact propelled Cross into the guardrail.


Young Worker Killed by Road Grader

August 8, BARLING, AR - 19 year old Zack Wells was killed when he was hit and run over by a road grader while working on a parking lot for the Arkansas State Highway Department. Wells apparently was measuring something and may have been kneeling and the road grader driver didn't see him.


Company Owner Crushed Under JumboTron

August 8, THOUSAND OAKS, CA - 49 year old David Mann died after a 1,500 pound TV monitor fell, crushing him underneath. As Mann, owner of Jumbo Screens, was disassembling equipment the giant monitor fell from a fork lift. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. OSHA is investigating.


Hydro Plant Worker Falls Into Turbin

August 8, BALDWINSVILLE, NY - 60 year old John Stranburg of Allegany died Monday after falling into a working turbine. Stranburg fell while doing maintenance on a turbine and was sucked underwater by the powerful current. Stranburg was co-owner of the Wave Hydro (electric) power plant in Baldwinsville, near Syracuse.


Worker Dies in Mine Incident

August 8, BEALLSVILLE, WV - Keith Baker of Jacobsburg, an employee for American Energy Corp., was killed in an unspecified incident at the Century Mine near Beallsville Monday. Baker was a 10 year employee for the company.


Firefighter Who Collapsed Last Month Dies

August 7, PERRY, OK - 53 year old Firefighter Kyle King collapsed last month while fighting a grass fire around an abandoned house. He died Sunday and the cause of death is pending. "Between the heat and the (heaviness of the) equipment, he was just overcome,” Perry Fire Chief Emmon said.


Second Officer Dies After Shoot Out

August 7, RAPID CITY, IA - Officer Nick Armstrong, who was injured August 2 in a shoot out, has died. Armstrong and two other officers stopped several individuals at a bus stop when one of them pulled a gun and began firing. One of the other officers was killed at the scene. The suspect was ultimately captured after a pursuit by other officers.


Cab Driver Shot and Killed

August 7, EAST POINT, GA - 49 year old Jack Rainey of East Point was shot and killed Sunday. Rainey called in to say he'd been shot but the radio went dead before they knew his location. Four hours later a woman called to report finding Rainey and the Day and Night Cab. The reason for the shooting is not given.


Police Officer Killed by Suicidal Gunman

August 7, SAN DIEGO, CA - 36 year old Officer Jeremy Henwood was shot and killed while sitting alone in his vehicle Sunday. A 23 year old male who robbed a restaurant came upon the officer, pulled up along side of him and opened fire. Witnesses used Henwood's radio to call for help. The suspect continued on a rampage until other officers were finally able to stop him. The gunman was killed.


Restaurant Employee Killed While Breaking up Fight

August 7, HOT SPRINGS, AR - 49 year old Ray Dautartas was killed when he was run over by a car while attempting to break up a fight at Smyly's Crab Shack where he worked. Investigators say someone in a car backed up with the door open and knocked Dautartas to the ground. As others were trying to help Dautartas, the driver pulled forward running over him. No charges have been filed as yet.



Worker Burned to Death in Substation Explosion

August 7, KISSIMMEE, FL - 48 year old Beverly Armstrong of Trenton, TN died Sunday morning from burns she received from an explosion at a Kissimmee Utility Authority substation. Witnesses who heard the explosion saw the substation on fire and one of the three fleeing workers were on fire. Armstrong, a contractor with Reinhausen Group, and two male employees were performing maintenance on a 69,000 volt transformer at a control house when the explosion occurred. OSHA will investigate.


Man Dies in Construction Incident

August 6, MUNICH, ND - 43 year old Shane Christenson of Devil's Lake died after a fall at a farm. Christenson fell about 22 feet from the rafters of a machine building under construction. He died at the scene. Authorities continue to investigate.


Construction Flagger Struck by Vehicle

August 6, PRICE, UT - 54 year old Linda Potter of Castle Dale was killed when she was struck down by a pickup truck going too fast for working conditions. Potter was directing northbound traffic through a single-lane construction zone on state Route 10 just outside of Price, when she was struck by the pickup. Potter was the second employee of Nielson Construction that died within 48 hours of another who was also hit by a vehicle.


Construction Deadly for Third Time in UT

August 6, WILLARD, UT - 52 year old Luis O. Aragon of West Jordan was killed while working road construction Saturday. Aragon was part of a "rotomilling" crew with Construction Material Recycling working on I-15. The process involves a mobile mill grinding the road surface and dumping it into a truck in front of it. Aragon somehow became trapped in between the two pieces of machinery and was run over by the dump truck.


Electrician Dies in Fall From Lift

August 5, YOUNGSVILLE, NC - 31 year old Eric Eugene Black of Wake Forest died after falling at the Trulite Glass & Aluminum's plant. Reports say Black was working on a lift when a crane moving glass collided with the lift. Black was knocked off the lift and fell about 25 feet to his death. The incident is being investigated.


Recycling Employee Struck and Killed by Equipment

August 4, WINDSOR, CT - 51 year old John Fitzpatrick of Ellington, an employee for USA Hauling & Recycling, was struck by a pay loader in the parking lot of F&G Recycling Friday. Fitzpatrick was walking in the parking lot when he was hit. Federal OSHA is investigating the incident.


Restaurant Worker Shot to Death

August 5, JONESBORO, GA - 38 year old David Harris was shot and killed while working at Berris & Norma Caribbean Restaurant Friday. Harris was working in the back with other employees when gunmen walked into the back and started shooting. No motive for the shooting is given.


Industrial Incident Claims Workers Life

August 5, WELLSVILLE, NY - Donald J. Gadley of Friendship was killed Friday in an unspecified industrial incident. Gadley was an employee for Dresser-Rand Wellsville. OSHA is investigating.



Worker Hit by Car, Second From Same Company

August 4, WELLINGTON, UT - 31 year old Aaron Simms of Price, was killed when he was hit by a vehicle while employed by Nielson Construction. Simms died when a motorist drifted over to the opposite shoulder of Ridge Road in Wellington and struck Simms who had been pulling weeds in front of the company’s offices. He died at the scene. Simms died less than 48 hours before another company employee (Potter-above).



Migrant Worker Killed in Harvesting Machine

August 4, TABOR CITY, NC - 43 year old Buenaventura Cortez-Martinez, a native of El Salvador, was killed when he was pulled into a tobacco harvesting machine. He was operating the harvester when it became clogged. He stopped the machine but did not turn it off and when he reached his hand inside to unclog it, he was pulled into the machine.


Worker Killed at Well Drilling Site

August 4, WASKOM, TX - 56 year old Roger Hampton of DeBerry was killed while on the job at a Caddo Parish natural gas drilling site near Waskom. Hampton was crushed between a backhoe and a pickup truck on the well site. Hampton worked for Select Energy Services, an oil and gas service company based in Houston.


Tree Trimmer Dies After Truck Runs Over Him

August 4, SOLVANG, CA - 53 year old Armando Medina of Nipomo died after he was hit and run over by a run-away truck. According to police, another worker was attempting to disconnect a chipper/shredder trailer from the bucket truck and truck began rolling down the hill and ran over Medina. He later died at an area hospital.


Railroad Worker Killed in Accident

August 4, TULSA, OK - 39 year old Deborah Beeler of Claremore died Thursday in an accident on the tracks of Burlington Northern Sante Fe railroad. The highway patrol says Beeler was a passenger of an ATV when it collided with one of the train cars. Beeler died at the scene.


Employee Pinned Between Two Trailers Dies

August 3, SPRINGDALE, AR - 50 year old Merrill Reynolds died Wednesday at Tyson's food plant in Springdale. He died after being pinned between two trailers in a staging area adjacent to the plant. Officers say some employees administered first aid to Reynolds, however he died from his injuries.


Farmer Killed in Tractor Accident

August 3, THORN HILL, TN - 54 year old Harold G. Dalton was killed when he lost control of his farm tractor Wednesday. While driving, the tractor left the roadway and rolled down an embankment, pinning Dalton under it.


Worker Hit by Semi at Loading Dock

August 3, PAYETTE, ID - 59 year old Thomas Walker, a long time worker for Seneca Food Processing plant, was killed Wednesday. Walker was hit and pinned under a semi that was backing up in a loading dock area. He died at the scene.


Worker Dies Trying to Save Another

August 3, FENTON, MI - 41 year old Ronald Utica died Wednesday attempting to save the life of a co-worker. Utica, an employee for Bender & Pociask Construction Company, was attempting to rescue a sub-contractor who had succumbed to methane gas fumes and had fallen into a sanitary sewer hole as he was attempting to measure it. Reports say Utica passed out too from the toxic fumes and fell, head first, into the confined space possibly breaking his neck.


Worker Dies as Result of Propane Fire

August 3, WICHITA, KS - 40 year old Jeffrey S. Burnam died of injuries he sustained in an explosion and fire at Global Propane fill station. The exact cause remains unknown, however it appears as canisters were being filled there was a release of propane which caused a fire and explosion. Several others were hurt in the incident.


Gas Tanker Overturns, Driver Killed

August 3, INDIANAPOLIS, IN - 47 year old Shawn Sullivan of Delphi died as the result of a tractor-tanker roll over. For an unknown reason, the truck hit portable concrete barriers used for road construction. At the end of the barriers, the truck tires went into the ditch causing it to tip over.


Construction Worker Dies in Fall

August 3, FAIRPLAY, CO - 35 year old Silviano Barreras-Martinez of Federal Heights has died after falling July 26 from a partially collapsed scaffold. He worked for Saunders Construction building the new Re-2 school district campus in Fairplay. The incident also sent two other workers to the hospital. OSHA is investigating.


Police Officer Killed in Shoot Out

August 2, RAPID CITY, IA - 28 year old Officer James Ryan McCandless died of gunshot wounds he received after a routine stop with other officers. McCandless and two other officers approached a group of four people at a bus stop when something went wrong and one person pulled a gun and began firing. McCandless was struck several times in the chest. The suspect was eventually captured after a chase by the other officers.


Worker Struck, Killed by Large Construction Hook

August 2, KATY, TX - an unidentified 32 year old construction worker was killed when he was struck by a large tow hook. He was working on a roadway when a concrete truck became stuck on a slight hill. A second truck was used to try and free the first truck by using a large tow strap strap, but the strap broke free and struck the man, who was standing in between the trucks.


Construction Worker Hit by Car Dies

August 2, JEFFERSON COUNTY, MO - 29 year old Jorge Corranza of DeSoto has died of injures he received when he was hit by a car. Corranza, a construction worker, was hit by a car while doing roadwork between Fenton and Arnold on July 12.


Dump Truck Driver Killed in Crash

August 2, MT. PLEASANT, SC - 73 year old James Cook of Summerville was killed Tuesday morning after his large dump truck collided with at least seven cars on Highway 17 in Mt. Pleasant. After the collision the truck hit a tree and then caught fire.


Worker Dies After Fall at Treatment Facility

August 2, PLAYA DEL REY, CA - 30 year old Edgar Alejandro Gonzalez of Tujunga died after falling at Hyperion (sewage) Treatment Plant Tuesday. Gonzalez, who worked for a private contractor, was doing framing work when he fell from a wall, officials said. Cal OSHA is investigating the incident.


Worker Crushed by Bakery Machinery

August 2, DALLAS, TX - an unidentified man was killed Tuesday at CSM Bakery Products. Fire crews arrived to find the man crushed under a piece of machinery after somehow ending up on a conveyor belt. No other details are available.


Young Deputy Dies in Cruiser Crash

August 2, SNOW HILL, NC - 21 year old Deputy David Jennings Dawson III died in a crash while responding to a call. The Greene County Sheriff Department said Deputy Dawson was responding to a call to assist another deputy when he lost control of his cruiser, which veered off the road and struck a tree.


Man Dies in Accident on Farm

August 1, SAN ANTONIO, TX - 19 year old Austin Torres died of severe head trauma Monday while working on farm equipment in western Dyer County. Torres was working with a crew for Mid-Valley Irrigation repairing a 1,435 feet long irrigation system that had been turned over during a heavy storm in April. As the crew was attempting to upright a section of the large sprinkler system when it began to fall and Torres was hit by it.


Crane Operator Dies in Sand Pit Cave In

August 1, TALLAHASSEE, FL - Bryan Smith of Tallahassee died when a sand pit he was operating a crane caved in around him. Firefighters say it appeared the dirt wall fell on Smith. They say they had to dig the dirt from around the cab compartment of crane.


Animal Control Officer Collapses on Call

August 1, CHEROKEE COUNTY, AL - 65 year old Larry Martin, a Cherokee County Animal Control Officer, collapsed in front of a home while putting a dog in his truck. He was transported to a local hospital where he died. No cause of death is known.


Worker Dies of Injuries in Fall

July 29, ABINGTON, MA - 47 year old John Lopez of Boston died Friday of injuries he sustained in a fall July 28. Lopez was at a home preparing it for painting when the ladder he was on slipped out from under him, dropping him in to bushes below. Lopez was impaled in the nose by a branch. Lopez, who has a wife and children in his native Columbia, worked for O'Mahoney Painting.


Truck Driver Killed in Accident

July 28, EFFINGHAM, IL - 50 year old Michael J. Reese of Dumas, MS died in an accident while driving his semi near Effingham. According to reports, he was driving through road construction when he fell asleep. His rig hit a guardrail, ran off the road and struck a tree. Reese's son, a passenger in the rig, called for help after the accident.


Construction Worker Dies When Porch Collapses

July 26, SANTA FE, NM - 50 year old Raymundo Uribe died of head and torso injuries when he a porch he was helping build collapsed under him. The homeowner contracted with Cinco Hermanos Construction for the work but had not obtained the proper permits or submit plans. The initial observation was that the porch was not secured to the double-wide, or it was too heavy for the support posts," said Sisneros, a sergeant with the sheriff's Criminal Investigations Division. "It was a pretty heavy-duty construction, with 6- to 10-inch-diameter vigas."











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