Weekly Toll

Young Farmer Dies When Caught in Machinery

October 24, NEWVILLE, PA - 19 year old Mark Weaver died after he became tangled in a harvesting combine. Weaver was harvesting corn when the combine became clogged. He got out of the cab to clear the clog but became caught in the auger at the front of the machine. Weaver died on site of multiple traumatic injuries.


Farmer Dies in Equipment Incident

October 24, FAIRHAVEN, MI - 60 year old Merlin Yoder died Monday after an incident with farm machinery. The sheriff's office reports that Yoder died after becoming entrangled in a John Deere combine machine. Details to the circumstances were not given.


Janitor Found Shot Inside Office

October 23, SEARCY, AR - 24 year old Zachary Mitchell was shot to death Sunday while he was working inside the Nephrology Associates office. The same office where his mother worked. Mitchell was a janitor at the office and was there alone cleaning. Friends went by to visit Mitchell and discovered he had been shot. Now his family waits for answers. Police are investigating.


Man Collapses While Setting up For Wedding

October 22, SCHAUMBURG, IL - 29 year old Brett Anderson collapsed and died while he was setting up his DJ equipment for a wedding Saturday. Anderson who was also a bartender, had been a DJ for many years. Friends say he had a low grade fever for several days before he collapsed but do not know if that contributed to his fatal collapse.


Worker Dies of Head Trauma

October 22, CHICAGO, IL - 26 year old Marcos Canizales died Saturday of head injuries. Canizales, a Comcast employee, was working in the Humboldt Park neighborhood when he fell from a ladder and landed on his head. Canizales' co-workers called for help, and he was transported to an area hospital where he died.


Worker Killed on Road Construction Project

October 22, GREAT FALLS, MT - 31 year old Jacob Wayne Fellman was killed Saturday while working on a road construction project on Black Eagle Road. Fellman was died after being struck by a dump truck. Fellman was employed by United Materials.


Firefighter Dies of Unknown Cause

October 22, FAIRFAX, VA - 49 year old Horace Pendergrass was found dead inside a bunkroom of the Fairfax County Crosspointe Fire Station Saturday. No cause of death is known but authorities do not feel the circumstances were suspicious.


Worker Dies in Fall From Building Roof

October 22, JACKSONVILLE, FL - 52 year old Thomas Patrick Weisflog of St. Augustine died Saturday after falling from the roof of the St. John's County jail building. Weisflog, an employee for K.P. Meiring Company, was working on the building when he fell. He was lifeflighted to a hospital where he died.


Taxi Driver Killed in Dispute With Passenger

October 22, PRINCE GEORGE COUNTY, MD - 40 year old Domingo Ezirike died after being shot by a passenger who argued with him over the fair for a ride. After the passenger did not pay the final $.75 of the fair, the two got into an argument and the passenger ended up shooting Ezirike before running off. The suspect has been arrested.


Worker Crushed Under Runaway Rail Car

October 21, SAN ANTONIO, TX - 27 year old Mario Perales died after being crushed under a rail car that he tried to stop. Perales was a team leader for Green Metals, a recycling company on Toyota property. According to a police report, Perales was running after a train car that got loose, to try to pull the emergency brake. Police say because it was dark Perales may not have seen clearly what was happening and the car derailed and fell onto him.


Family Owned Business Owner Dies in Incident

October 21, OHIO, IL - 41 year old Bill Sisler died after being pinned under a wall he was attempting to move Friday. He was part of the Sisler Dairy Products/Ice Cream Co. and was working at the plant. Authorities say the plant has walls that can move to make a room smaller or larger. It appears as if Sisler was on a ladder, removing screws from the wall so he could move it, when the wall fell, hitting the ladder and ultimately pinning Sisler underneath the wall.


Sanitation Worker Dies in Explosion

October 21, FLORENCE, KY - an unidentified man died of head injuries and a co-worker injured when a explosion occurred inside a manhole. The crew was performing contract work for Sanitation District 1 and were inside a manhole testing seams on a sewer pipe. The crew was using a rubber bladder pressurized with air to test the seams in the pipe, but the bladder gave way and caused the explosion. It appears the crew worked for Lawrence Construction.


Driver Dies at Geothermal Steamfield

October 20, LAKE COUNTY, CA - 57 year old Eugene "Corky" Bracisco died as the result of a work truck crash near Calpine's The Geyser's geothermal steamfield Thursday. He missed an afternoon meeting and his wife reported that he didn't come home after work, so a search began for Bracisco. The search eventually located Bracisco's work truck, which had slipped down into a ravine on Calpine property just over the Sonoma County line. The Lake County Sheriff's report said Bracisco had died by the time he was found.


Hotel Owner Murdered by Someone He was Helping

October 20, GOSHEN, IN - 51 year old Kiran "Ken" Patel was found dead inside one of his hotel rooms after family couldn't find him. Patel was owner of the Garden Inn as well as other properties and he was known for helping homeless people get back on their feet by allowing them to stay in one of his hotel rooms. Patel was murdered by one of those homeless people who he had hired to help with a renovation project and allowed to stay on property while he was working. The man accused of murdering Patel has been arrested.


Man Dies of Injuries in Fall

October 20, BUCKHANNON, WV - 44 year old Mike Atkinson of Pennsylvania died of injuries he suffered Oct. 17. Atkinson fell 40 feet to the bottom of a silo while doing routine maintenance at the Weyerhaeuser wood products plant on TJM Drive. Atkinson was performing the work while the plant was shut down.


Logging Incident Kills Man

October 20, FILLMORE, MN - 60 year old Kenneth Erding suffered fatal crushing injuries when a tree fell onto him while logging. There was evidence that Erding had partially cut at least one tree and was cutting another when the tree fell on top of him. Moderate winds may have caused the tree to fall.


Underwater Welder Dies When Equipment Tangles

October 19, GARRISON, ND - 32 year old Joseph Gould of Brook Park, MN drowned Wednesday in Lake Sakakawea in North Dakota. Gould was installing pipe 125 feet below the surface of the lake when his equipment became entangled. A co-worker tried unsuccessfully to free him, and he was unable to surface. Gould was employed by Midco Diving Co. out of Rapid City, SD.


Worker Identified

October 19, MINNETRISTA, MN - 61 year old Mark W. Allen of Wayzata has been identified as the worker who was crushed in a garbage truck. Co-workers found Allen pinned in the hydraulic arm of a garbage truck when they showed up at Blackowiak Disposal Wednesday morning. Allen was listed as an unidentified worker in last week's Weekly Toll.






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Bridge Worker Suffers Fatal Head Injuries

October 20, WARRENSBURG, NY - 62 year old John "Jack" Lattimore of Schroon Lake died after suffering head trauma while performing maintenance on the Glen Bridge. Lattimore, a Dept.of Transportation employee, was in a lift bucket of a boom truck working under the bridge when his head was struck by a steel beam. Authorities say Lattimore was wearing a safety harness and helmet when the incident occurred.


Worker Killed in Garage Incident

October 19, MARSHFIELD, MA - 39 year old Brian Fosdick died Wednesday while working in the garage of a septic services company. Fosdick was found lying next to a septic truck at All-Town Inc. and it appears he suffered blunt force trauma to the forehead while doing some kind of tire changing work on an industrial truck. Police and OSHA are conducting an investigation.


Man Pinned by Equipment Dies

October 19, MINNETRISTA, MN - an unidentified 61 year old man was killed Wednesday when he became trapped the hydraulics of a garbage truck. An employee for Blackowiak & Son, the man was found pinned in the hydraulic arm of the garbage truck, according to Minnetrista police.


Contractor Dies in Fall

October 19, NORTH KINGSTON, RI - 44 year old Juan Molina of Central Falls died after falling from the roof he was repairing at Senesco Marine on Wednesday. Molina was killed when he stepped on a plank that broke in half and he fell 47 feet. He was repairing damage caused to the building by Hurricane Irene.


Power Company Employee Electrocuted

October 18, NACOGDOCHES, TX - 21 year old Aaron Sullender of Broaddus died Tuesday after being electrocuted while working on lines between Nacogdoches and Garrison. Sullender, an employee for Deep East Texas Electric Corp. was working on the line on County Road 1362, following Tuesday's storm, when he came in contact with a high-voltage line. He was transported to an area hospital where he died of his injuries.


Worker Dies in Trench Collapse

October 18, BISMARCK, ND - 41 year old Troy Thurlby died and another worked injured in a trench collapse Tuesday. The incident happened as a crew was working on a water line near Menoken. Thurlby's employer was Advanced Plumbing & Heating Inc. No further details are available.


Taxi Driver Found Murdered

October 18, CHESTERFIELD, VA - 49 year old Peter J. Ambrister of Colonial Heights was found dead inside his Boulevard Cab Company vehicle. Police are investigating and looking for anyone with information.


Worker Thrown From Bucket Truck

October 18, QUINCY, MA - 58 year old Robert DeCristofaro of Braintree died after being thrown from a bucket truck. Decristofaro, a Quincy City employee, was up in the bucket of a rented truck when the driver of an 18-wheeler hit the truck, sending DeCristofaro to the ground. He was transported to an area hospital where he died. OSHA is investigating.


Man Killed in Tractor Rollover

October 18, DANVILLE, VA - 39 year old William Edgar Burden died after the tractor he was operating overturned and pinned him underneath. Burden and another man were removing metal from abandoned mobile home sites when the accident occurred.


Station Clerk Shot to Death

October 17, WASHINGTON, DC - Mohammed Abduselam was gunned down by one of two gunmen who entered the Kink Gas Convenience store to rob it. Abduselam was re-stocking shelves when two men entered the store. When Abduselam saw one of the men had a gun, he stepped outside to call 9-1-1. One of the gunmen followed him outside and shot him.


Surface Miner Killed in Equipment Incident

October 17, CHARLESTON, WV - 62 year old Charles McIntire died Monday when he was struck and run over by a large piece of equipment at Consol Energy's Shoemaker Mine. A report states that McIntire was operating a machine used to dig trenches when it reached a gap in a trolley wire and didn't coast through. McIntire got off the machine and put a jumper cable on the wire. An eyewitness reported that the machine moved forward suddenly when McIntire connected the jumper cable to it and ran over him.


Truck Driver Killed in Truck Rollover

October 17, WALLA WALLA, WA - 51 year old Kevin Bruce Hensley of Bowie, AZ was killed when his tractor trailer crashed Monday near Walla Walla. For an unknown reason Hensley crossed the center line, but then he overcorrected the semi which caused it to overturn and slide off the highway into a field.


Employee Dies of Medical Issue While on Duty

October 16, LEVITTOWN, NY - 56 year old Frank Mazza died Sunday after suffering a medical issue at a football game on Saturday. Mazza, an employee for Division Avenue High School, suffered a brain aneurysm while working security at the school's home football game. He died Sunday at an area hospital. Mazza was well known and loved for his involvement in his community.


Restaurant Owner Succumbs to Toxic Fumes

October 16, MIAMI, FL - 50 year old Tomas Gil died after he was exposed to toxic fumes in a septic tank outside of Esther's Restaurant in North Miami, Sunday. Gil was inside the septic tank outside the restaurant when other workers heard him scream for help. An employee who was unaware of the dangers went inside to help Gil but was also overcome by the fumes. Rescue workers pulled the men from the space but Gil later died at the hospital. The employee was treated and released.


On Duty Officer Killed by Intoxicated Driver

October 16, MT. ARLINGTON, NJ - 38 year old Mount Arlington Police Officer Joseph Wargo was killed in a crash early Sunday morning. Wargo was on patrol when a driver believed to be under the influence lost control of his car, crossed the median and slammed into Wargo's cruiser. Wargo was transported to an area hospital when he died. The driver of the car is under arrest.


Indy Race Car Driver Dies in Fiery Crash

October 16, LAS VEGAS, NV - 33 year old Dan Weldon of England died in a horrific multi-vehicle crash during the 13th lap of the Indy 300 auto race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas on Sunday. As cars raced down the track, one and then another began to spin and at some point Weldon's car went airborne and crashed into a side concrete wall. He was airlifted to a local hospital where he died of unsurvivable injuries a few hours later. Several other drivers were treated for their injuries.


Tractor Trailer Slams Into Car & Tow Vehicle, Kills All

October 16, WELLS, NV - 20 year old Jesse John Pengelly of Wells and a couple from Washington state were killed in the early hours of Sunday morning. Pengelly was in the process of loading the couple's car onto his tow vehicle when the driver of a tractor trailer slammed into the back of the disabled vehicle, killing the couple. Their car was then propelled up over the back of the tow truck and hit Pengelly. Pengelly was transported to a Utah hospital where he died.


Construction Worker Suffers Fatal Head Injuries

October 15, SIOUX CITY, IA - 35 year old Jorge Ramon Morales of North Sioux City died after he was struck by falling masonry on a job site. Morales was working on a construction addition to Heelan Hall at Briar Cliff University. Details on the circumstances were not given.


Tractor Trailer Driver Killed in Crash

October 15, LEXINGTON, NC - 53 year old Frank Peter Childs of Greenville died Saturday from injuries received in a crash of his Estes Express Lines semi. For an unknown reason, Childs ran into the back of an SUV which caused his semi to run off the road. It hit several trees before turning over and ignited on fire. Childs died at the scene.


Forest Service Employee Found Dead

October 14, PORTLAND, OR - 64 year old James Proctor was found collapsed on a trail by Larch Mountain Road by two hikers Friday. Proctor, a U.S. Forest Service employee, was found unconscious and unresponsive on Multnomah Creek trail and emergency responders were unable to revive him. The exact cause of Mr. Proctor's death is unknown at this time.


Man Murders Co-Worker

October 14, MOUNTAIN LAKES, NJ - 47 year old Christine Capone King of Oak Ridge died Friday at the hands of a co-worker. King was the office manager & secretary of the Exit Realty Gold Service office in Mountain Lakes. For an unknown reason, a co-worker and seemingly friend, walked into the office and shot King while she was sitting at her desk. The man was subsequently shot to death by officers who he engaged in an exchange of gunfire in a parking lot outside the office.


Man Dies Two Days After Brother From Toxic Exposure

October 14, ARVIN, CA - 22 year old Eladio Rameriz has died, two days after his 16 year old brother Armando died, both of toxic fumes exposure at a recycling facility. Eladio was a contract worker of A&B Harvesting working at the Community Recycling facility. Both young men, and another worker, were inside a confined space at the facility when they were overcome by the toxic fumes. According to reports, the workers were not given the proper safety equipment to do the job they were doing. Armando's death was reported in last week's Weekly Toll.


Fast Food Worker Shot to Death

October 14, LANSING, MI - 21 year old Marcus Schrauben was shot to death by an armed gunman who attempted to rob the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant he was working at. The gunman entered the store and shot Schrauben who then ran outside the restaurant where he collapsed.


Tow Truck Driver Struck and Killed

October 14, RUTHERFORD, NJ - 51 year old Mark Angelo of Lyndhurst died after being struck by a vehicle while loading a car onto his Nick's Towing tow truck. Angelo was hoisting a car on a Route 17 ramp in Rutherford when he was hit by a tractor trailer after 1:30AM. An investigation is underway. UPDATE: More information on this incident can be found HERE.


Fiery Semi Crash Kills Driver

October 14, HOUSTON, TX - 45 year old Michael Winfield died after his tractor trailer rig crashed at a Sam Houston Tollway. Winfield lost control of his truck which slammed into a concrete barrier, went airborne and landed on top of another vehicle at the tollway, killing its driver. After hitting the SUV, both it and the semi burst into flames trapping the SUV driver.


Truck Driver Suffers Medical Event Before Crash

October 14, MACKINAW CITY, MI - Randolph Smith suffered an apparent heart attack while driving on the Mackinac Bridge Friday. Smith was unconscious when he traveling across 4 lanes of traffic, hitting one vehicle head on. No other injuries were reported. The crash is still under investigation.


Construction Worker Suffers Fatal Injuries

October 14, KEYES, OK - 48 year old Danny J. Stump of Guymon Friday after he was run over by a road construction vehicle. Stump was stringing line in a construction zone on State Highway 171 near Keyes when he was run over by the right wheel tires of a Peterbilt truck. The machine was backing down the roadway. Stump died at the scene.


Worker Dies After Being Pinned at Food Plant

October 13, LODI, CA - 53 year old Gary Lawce died in a rail car incident at the Lodi General Mills plant Thursday. Police said Lawce tried to stop a moving rail car by setting a brake but the car continued to roll, pinning him. Lawce was taken to an area hospital but did not survive his injuries.


Tree Service Worker Fatally Electrocuted

October 13, NEW HOPE, VA - 43 year old John R. Bowden of Craigsville was fatally electrocuted when he came into contact with live electrical wires. Bowden was in a bucket truck, clearing tree limbs near a power line running along Middle Lane Road, when the accident occurred. Bowden worked for Asplundh Tree Service who had been hired by Dominion Virginia Power to clear the tree limbs. He got tangled up in power line according to the sheriff.


Man Suffers Fatal Chainsaw Injuries

October 13, ROCKDALE, GA - 40 year old Pedro Martinez-Torres died Thursday after an incident involving a chain saw. Martinez-Torres was working in a tree and was later found by the property owner unconscious in the tree. He had cuts on his face and head. The homeowner noticed blood on the ground when he arrived at the home and called emergency responders. Martinez-Torres died on the scene.


Glider Pilot Killed Making Commercial

October 13, CLE ELUM, WA - 53 year old William Weller of Tukwila was killed after his glider crashed Thursday during the shooting of a General Motors commercial in Cle Elum. With a helicopter shooting the action from above, the aircraft crashed into trees immediately after takeoff, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Weller owned Northwest Eagle Soaring and the production company filming the commercial is Supply & Demand Integrated of Los Angeles.


Man Dies in Farming Incident

October 13, ALEXANDRIA, MN - 50 year old Lyndon Wilberg died Thursday when the farm tractor he was driving rolled over. No details on how the incident happened were given. Wilberg farmed for 10 years in Nora Township and for the past 18 years owned and operated his own residential construction company.


Tower Technician Dies From Fall

October 12, NEWTON, MA - 30 year old Matthew D. Goodner of Fort Dodge, IA died in a fall from a communications tower west of Boston on Wednesday. Goodner worked for a subcontractor doing work at the American Tower Corp. structure where the crew were placing a new antenna pole and safety ladder. It is unclear how far Goodner fell but the tower is 1,000 feet tall.


Worker Dies of Heat Related Stress

October 12, NIMPOMO, CA - 41 year old Jesse Maldonado died after falling ill while working of the Willow Road Interchange Project in Nimpomo. While working Maldonado complained of feeling ill. Emergency responders transported him to a local hospital where he died. Cal-OSHA is investigating his death as a heat related incident.


Beloved Sign Holder Dies in Hit and Run

October 10, NAPLES, FL - 49 year old Stephen "Lugnut" Duzick died of multiple injuries when he was struck by a suspected drunk driver while working to advertise a local restaurant by holding a sign. Although "Lugnut" was a Little Person, he was a huge favorite of so many people in his community and loved by all. The man accused of hitting Duzick was arrested and faces multiple charges.













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Workers Drown as Truck Plunges Into River

October 13, PLUMAS COUNTY, CA - 29 year old Ryan Patrick Miles and 31 year old Aaron Joseph Weiss of Chico, drowned and two co-workers survived after their Pacific Gas & Electric truck went out of control and plunged into Rock Creek Reservoir. The crew were working in Carabou all day and were on their way back into town when the driver lost control, sending the truck into the water.


Oil Rig Incident Claims Worker's Life

October 13, EL DORADO, OK - Cecil Haley of Electra, TX was the victim of an oil rig incident Thursday at Big Rig Drilling. According to one report, Haley was on a construction elevator about 90 feet in the air, connecting two 1,600 lbs pipes. Authorities say that somehow the pressure of the pipes caused some of the supporting equipment, called fingers, to bend, which sent one of the huge pipes back toward the worker. It hit him and it appears that he was killed by the impact. This report is a further update.


Construction Worker Dies in Fall

October 13, MANHATTAN, NY - an unidentified 33 year old man died after falling six stories inside an Upper West Side church. The worker was installing a safety net under the roof of the church when police say he may have lost his footing after receiving an electric shock. The man was working with a partner and may have received the shock while drilling into the sub ceiling to anchor the net.


Fiery Crash Kills Truck Driver

October 13, GASTONIA, NC - 45 year old Eric Fitzgerald Lee of Greenville died Thursday in a fiery crash with another tractor trailer near Gastonia. Traffic was at a near stand still on I-85 due to detours in both directions. Lee apparently did not slow down in time and slammed into the back of another semi, triggering an explosion of a ruptured fuel tank. Lee was able to escape the inferno and the other driver, from Texas, was taken to an area hospital.


Out of Control Car Kills Two in Work Zone

October 13, BURNSVILLE, MN - 44 year old Ronald Rajkowski of St. Joseph and 47 year old Craig Carlson of Ramsey died after an out of control driver crashed into them on Interstate 35-W. The driver of the car slowed down for road construction but after coming too close to a barrier wall he lost control and spun into a ditch where it struck Rajkowski and Carlson. The men worked for Egan Company doing work for MNPASS project.


Farmer Killed as Tractor Rolls Into Ravine

October 13, ENTERPRISE, LA - 72 year old Larry Hitt died Thursday in a farming incident. Hitt was operating a tractor and for an unknown reason the tractor rolled down into a ravine. Hitt died on the scene.


Officer Run Down by Bank Robbery Suspects

October 13, WALKER, MI - 41 year old Officer Trevor Slot died Thursday when he was run over and killed by suspects in an alleged bank robbery in Muskegon County. He was deployed stop sticks in an attempt to stop the get away vehicle. The Walker police chief confirmed one of her officers had been killed in the line of duty and said an investigation continues. The bank robbers were both shot and killed by police during a gun battle after crashing their vehicle.


Mass Shooting Claims Six Worker Lives

October 13, SEAL BEACH, CA - An angry ex-husband of a Seal Beach Salon Meritage employee walked into the business on Wednesday and opened fire. He shot six employees inside the shop. He also killed one patron and one man in the parking lot as he left the business. Following are the employees who were killed in the rampage:
48 year old Michelle Marie Fournier of Los Alamitos. Her ex-husband was the gunman.
46 year old Laura Lee Elody of Huntington Beach.
63 year old Randy Lee Fannin of Murrieta, owner of the salon.
Michelle Daschback Fast of Seal Beach.
Christy Lynn Wilson of Cerritos.
54 year old Victoria Ann Buzzo of Laguna Beach.


Road Worker Struck Down by Truck

October 12, COWPENS, SC - 47 year old Apolonio Esteban Ortela of Greer suffered fatal internal injuries when he was hit by a truck while working along I-85 near Cowpens. Ortela was working with a crew from Tree of Life Landscaping, weed-eating along the roadway when the driver of a truck and trailer lost control and drove into the workers. The other workers were taken to a local hospital. Tree of Life was hired by the South Carolina Dept. of Transportation to do the work along the interstate.


Cement Truck Driver Dies in Crash

October 12, LA HONDA, CA - 62 year old Fred Gunther Eisenstaedt of Dublin was killed when the cement truck he was driving rolled into a creek bed. No other details are available and the crash is under investigation.


Cornered Fugitive Opens Fire, Killing One Officer

October 12, LOWER BURRELL, PA - 40 year old Patrolman Derek Kotecki was shot and killed by a fugitive he and other officers were attempting to arrest. The fugitive has been on the run after making threats against the department's officers and other crimes. Officers received a tip he would be a Dairy Queen and when they arrived, the man stepped out of his vehicle and began shooting. Kotecki was struck by the gunfire, and the fugitive was also killed.


Master Electrician Electrocuted

October 12, CENTERVILLE, MN - an unidentified 47 year old man from White Bear Lake was electrocuted Wednesday while working on the Central Bank in Centerville. An employee for L&D Sign, the man was working on an outdoor sign when the incident occurred. It appears it was raining while he was working. OSHA is investigating. UPDATE: A report has identified Thomas Michael Gamboni as the worker who died in this incident.


Teen Worker Dies in Confined Space of Toxic Exposure, Brother Brain Dead

October 12, ARVIN, CA - 16 year old Armando Ramirez of Arvin died, and two other workers injured, after apparently inhaling hydrogen sulfide in a drainage tunnel at Community Recycling & Resource recycling company in Lamont. The victims were at the bottom of an eight-foot underground shaft linked to a drainage system. It is unclear if the workers were given breathing equipment, but emergency workers had to clear the air and wear breathing masks to get the workers out. Ramirez died at the hospital. Reports say one worker may have been employed by A&B Harvesting, but did not say which worker. More information on this incident can be found here and here.


Worker Falls to His Death From Roof

October 12, LIMA, OH - 54 year old Frankie Cousey died after falling from the roof of Superior Forge building while working Wednesday. Cousey was an employee for Centimark Corporation who was subcontracted to do work on the Superior Forge building. The incident is under investigation.


Store Clerk Shot During Robbery

October 12, TAMPA, FL - 53 year old Marilyn Tejada was shot and killed Wednesday during a robbery of Sam's Food Mart. Tejada had worked at the store for five years and felt like she knew all the patrons. That's why the owner believes she left open a bullet proof door that would have protected her against the gunman.


Man Killed as Tractor Topples Down Ski Slope

October 11, UNION DALE, PA - 49 year old Wayne Tietz of Herrick Center died when the tractor he was operating at the top of a mountain at Elk Mountain Ski Resort rolled down a slope. According to police, the tractor rolled over several times down the Tunkhannock Slope at the resort.


Metro Worker Dies of Head Injuries

October 11, HOUSTON, TX - 45 year old Chung T. Luu died of head injuries Tuesday. Luu, a maintenance worker at Rail Operations Center of the Metropolitan Transit Authority, was on board a slowly moving rail car and stuck his head out the door, hitting a support beam. It was unclear why Luu had put his head outside the train, which was being moved into a service lane for repairs.


Man Dies of Burns When Tank Explodes

October 11, NEWPORT, NH - 68 year old Clifton Labounty Jr. suffered fatal burns when he was attempting to drain the gas tank of a truck. Labounty operated a scrap metal business at his home and he and his son were using a power drill to drain the tank. They had used this method many times, but this time the fumes from the tank ignited.


Industrial Incident Claims Life of Worker

October 10, RICHARDSON, TX - 54 year old Roy Aguilar died in an industrial incident at the Texas Instrument facility in Richardson on Monday. Firefighters responded to a report of a water purifier explosion at a TI unit. Police say Aguilar was impaled by some type of glass.


Worker Killed in Collision With Semi

October 10, LAMAR, CO - 23 year old Joshua Owens of Pueblo died and his co-worker injured when their plumbing van crossed traffic and collided into the side of a tractor-trailer rig. The collision caused the van to spin around and land on its side.


Fabrication Worker Dies of Head Injuries

October 10, HOUMA, LA - 22 year old Mark Naquin of Montegut died Monday when he was hit in the head by a cable that came loose while moving metal sheet piling. Naquin, an employee for Gulf Island Fabrication, was among workers moving the pilings, which weigh about 700 pounds each. OSHA will be investigating.


Big Rig Driver Dies in Crash

October 10, BAKERSFIELD, CA - 76 year old Charles Edward Larson was killed Monday when the tractor trailer full of sand overturned, crushing the cab. Larson was traveling on Highway 46 when a driver of a car crossed lanes and slammed head on into Larson's truck. The impact caused Larson's trailer to overturn, spilling its load and then the truck cab overturned and was crushed.


Sewer Worker Apparently Overcome by Fumes

October 10, MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO - 46 year old Daniel Accola of Robertsville died while working in an 18 foot sewer confined space. Accola and two others were working in the area when Accola became unresponsive. When a second worker came to check on Accola he became light headed. Rescue workers were called and the two workers were transported to the hospital while Accola was pronounced dead.


Taxi Driver Murdered by Passenger

October 10, SAN ANTONIO, TX - John Dexter was shot to death by an 18 year old passenger on Monday. Dexter picked up the man and took him to a home. After going up to the door of the house, the man walked back to the taxi and shot Dexter several times. Police know who their suspect is and are looking for him.



Skydiving Instructor Dies When Parachute Malfunctions

October 9, MESQUITE, NV - 60 year old James Fonnesbeck of St George, UT and his 75 year old tandem student died when their parachute did not fully deploy and the back-up chute became tangled in the main chute during a birthday celebration jump for the 75 year old grandmother. Fonnesbeck, of Skydive Mesquite was a 40 year veteran skydiver.


Nursery Owner Dies in Equipment Accident

October 9, FRANKFORT, KY - 61 year old Ren Heard, owner of Lake Tree Farm LLC, died when the bulldozer he was driving flipped over into the Kentucky River near Frankfort on Sunday. Heard was digging a water-line trench when the bank of the river may have given way, causing the bulldozer to flip upside down into the river. Boaters on the river noticed parts of the bulldozer sticking out of the water and called authorities. Heard drowned in the incident.


Man Trapped Under Truck Dies

October 8, MANHEIM, PA - 57 year old Jeff Rotella of Syracuse, NY was crushed under a truck he was trying to load at an auto auction Sunday. Rotella became trapped on Friday while loading vehicles onto a car carrier at the Manheim Auto Auction. A pick-up truck fell on him, pinning him underneath. He died at a local hospital Saturday of those injuries.


Tractor Trailer Driver Dies in Truck Rollover

October 8, DOUGHERTY, IA - 52 year old Marlin Hanson of Mason City died Saturday in a rollover accident near Doughtery. Hanson was driving a truck hauling a trailer full of grain when for an unknown reason the truck rolled, landing on its roof in a ditch.


Police Officer Dies Trying to Stop Car

October 7, GRENADA, MS - 50 year old Capt. John Wayne Haddock died when he was struck by the car he was attempting to stop Friday. Haddock was setting out spike strips when the fleeing suspects in the car struck him, throwing him 200 feet by the impact.



Miner Dies in Bridge Collapse

October 7, PARTRIDGE, KY - 23 year old Richard Coots Jr. of Ages has died after an incident at a mine of Maggard Branch of Owlco Energy in Partridge. Coots was repairing a conveyor chain when the bridge inside the coal mine that the belt runs through collapsed on top of him. Coots brother was part of the crew that brought him out of the mine.


Store Employee Killed During Robbery

October 7, HAINES CITY, FL - 20 year old Jaime Magana Jr. was fatally shot by two men who robbed the store. Subsequent reports state the two armed robbers have been arrested in Magana's murder.


Worker Hit and Killed on Construction Site

October 7, WILLIAMSTOWN, MA - 82 year old John J. Hanson of Castleton, NY was killed Friday when he was struck and run over by a piece of construction equipment. Hanson worked for a subcontractor at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown. Police and OSHA are conducting an investigation.


Tree Trimmer Dies in Fall

October 7, LAKE SHERWOOD, CA - 56 year old Agustin Valladares of Arleta died Friday after he fell while trimming trees in Lake Sherwood. Valladares, owner of Agustin Valladares Tree Trimming, was trimming the branches of an oak tree when the branch he was standing on broke, authorities said. He fell about 30 feet to a concrete driveway.


Construction Worker Found Dead on Site

October 6, CARTHAGE, TX - 51 year old Mark D. Blake of Lufkin was found dead on the construction site at Libby Elementary School campus. The manner or cause of death has not been disclosed. Blake worked for J.E. Kingham Construction.


Farm Laborer Crushed in Equipment

October 5, SALINAS, CA - 39 year old Eliseo Garcia Gutierrez died while working with a crew harvesting lettuce. Gutierrez was picking lettuce and placing it on a conveyor belt running across a large metal crop harvester. He was crushed between the tractor, being driven by another worker, and the harvesting equipment.


Months After Beating, Security Guard Dies of Injuries

September 29, PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL - 61 year old Jacques Novembre has died of beating injuries he received back on July 14. Novembre, an unarmed security guard, attempted to stop thieves from stealing approximately $20. of copper-containing devices at the back of the Promenade Shopping Plaza. When Novembre confronted the thieves, he was assaulted. He was hospitalized since the assault.













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Worker Killed on Construction Site

October 6, DECATUR, TX - 43 year old Jeffery Stackhouse of Azle died of unspecified injuries while working in a construction zone on U.S. 380 near Decatur. Officials say Stackhouse died at the scene of blunt force injuries.


Semi Hits Farm Tractor, Kills Driver

October 6, BLOOMING PRAIRIE, MN - 78 year old Robert Long was killed when his farm tractor was hit by a semi. Long was pulling a grain trailer and was just making a left hand turn onto a road at the same time the semi driver attempted to pass the tractor. Long died at the scene.


Road Construction Flagger Struck by Car

October 6, INDIANAPLOIS, IN - 43 year old Juan Hernandez Rosas died after being struck by an out of control car in a road construction zone. Rosas' son was working a crane when he saw his father hit and administered aide until EMS could arrive. The construction was taking place at 30th Street and Franklin Road.


Worker Who Fell Has Died of Injuries

October 6, KEENE, NH - 58 year old Steven Sawyer of Dublin has died of injuries he suffered in a fall Sept. 22. Sawyer was working for The MacMillin Co., General Contractor for construction of the Keene Middle School, when he fell 35-40 feet from scaffolding. He was in critical condition until he passed Thursday.


Transportation Worker Electrocuted

October 5, ELLENDALE, DE - 24 year old Eric T. Givens of Laurel died Wednesday morning while working at Delaware's Department of Transportation Ellendale yard. Givens was operating a large grass-cutting tractor that got caught on a metal guy wire anchoring a utility pole. When Givens got off the tractor and grabbed the guy wire to shake it loose, it made contact with a live electrical wire and the shock knocked him to the ground.


Well Drilling Turned Deadly for Worker

October 5, HAMPDEN, CT - 61 year old Martin Peterson of Vernon died Wednesday while he was attempting to drill a well when the area where Peterson was working collapsed underneath him, turning the ground into a pool of mud and water. Co-workers used every means available to rescue him but he continued to lose grip and sink down further. OSHA is investigating.


Tractor Trailer Driver Loses Control and Crashes

October 5, FLAG POND, TN - 58 year old Robert Thomas Duncan of Holly Hill, SC was killed Wednesday when he lost control of his semi on a curve, crashing on Interstate 26. After hitting a guard rail the cab and trailer separated and both rolled several times, crushing part and tearing off part of the cab's roof.


Worker Killed in Industrial Incident

October 5, SCRIBA, NY - 46 year old Edward M. Carvey of Hannibal died of injuries he received Tuesday while operating machinery at Novelis Inc, an aluminum rolling plant. The nature of his injuries were not reported and he died Wednesday at an area hospital.


Three Killed in Murderous Rampage by Co-Worker

October 5, CUPERTINO, CA - 59 year old Mark Munoz, 51 year old John Vallejos, both of San Jose and 48 year old Manuel Pinon of Newman were gunned down as they sat inside a trailer preparing for a safety meeting Wednesday morning. Six other employees were wounded in the rampage at the Lehigh Southwest Cement Permanente plant in Cupertino. The gunman, a co-worker, came into the meeting and then left to retrieve guns. When he returned to the meeting he opened fire.


Worker Dies of Exposure to Toxic Fumes

October 4, GROSSE POINTE FARMS, MI - 50 year old Thomas Issac died Tuesday when he was overcome by fumes after responding to a gas leak. Issac worked for DTE Energy and had responded to a report of a leak and was placing a flow seal clamp over the hole in the line when it ruptured. A co-worker found him slumped over in a 5-foot hole with gas rapidly escaping from a ruptured pipe.


Road Construction Worker Struck and Killed

October 4, DRAPER, UT - 31 year old Dallas Prokopis of Magna died after he was struck by a dump truck on Sept. 29. Due to a miscommunication between workers, Prokopis was hit on northbound I-15 while he was moving traffic barrels, according to police. Other workers had cleared the lane further up the freeway and Prokopis hadn't expected traffic to be in the lane. The dump truck driver stopped and called 911.


Rollover Crash Kills Civilian Employee

October 4, FORT CARSON, CO - 56 year old Terry Miller was killed and his co-worker wife was injured, in a car accident on Fort Carson's Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site. Miller was a long time Fort Carson civilian employee. Miller's wife is expected to recover. She was also an employee at Fort Carson.


Worker Crushed Under Falling Tree

October 4, KOUNTZE, TX - 40 year old Larry Dean Price of Lumberton died after he was crushed under a fallen tree. Price was using a rope to guide a tree's fall when it accidentally hit another tree according to the sheriff. The top of the other tree then fell down, striking Price as he tried to get out of the way. He was taken to an area hospital where he died of his injuries.


Man Dies in Forklift Incident

October 4, MONTROSE, IA - 46 year old John M. Horner died Tuesday in an incident involving a forklift. Horner was operating an industrial sized forklift and when he crested a steep hill it apparently stopped and rolled back. It then overturned into a ditch. Horner either jumped or was thrown from the machine and it struck him causing fatal injuries.


Tractor Trailer Driver Dies in Crash

October 4, CHARLESTON, SC - 51 year old David Payton of Greenville, NC died when his semi crashed on I-95 in Colleton County. For an unknown reason Payton's truck went into the median and flipped. He was pinned under the vehicle and died at the scene.


Farmer Dies After Being Pinned by Equipment

October 4, NEVADA, IA - 50 year old Danny Lester Christie was killed Tuesday when he became pinned between farm equipment. Investigators say it's believed that Christie was disassembling the machine to sell for scrap when it collapsed on him, pinning him between the auger and the disassembled supports.



Police Officer Found Dead of Unknown Cause

October 3, ANAMOSA, IA - 34 year old Officer David Riches was found dead on a pedestrian bridge by the entrance to Wapsipinicon State Park in Anamosa. Authorities do not yet know the cause or manner of Riches death but say it is not suspicious. His patrol car was found near the bridge after he went on duty at midnight.


Driver of Semi Dies in Crash

October 3, FREEMONT, MO - 39 year old Carl R. Besher of Piedmont died Monday in a crash of his Freightliner truck. Besher was driving down Route J when he lost control on a curve and the truck overturned. Police say he was not wearing a seat belt.


Public Safety Officer Dies on Duty

October 2, WASHINGTON, DC - 66 year old Rudolph Speller, a beloved Dept. of Public Safety Officer for The Catholic University of America, died of heart failure while making rounds in Caldwell Hall. He had just reported that a parking lot he patrolled was clear and was heading to Caldwell Hall on foot. After other officers could not get a response from Speller they went looking for him and found him unconscious. He was pronounced dead at the scene.


Injured Recycling Worker Dies

October 1, NORTHHAMPTON, PA - 40 year old Luis Castellan of Allentown died of injuries he received when a large bale of recycling material fell on him. Castellan worked for Greenstar Recycling-Todd Heller Inc. OSHA is investigating.


Tow Truck Driver Struck and Killed

October 1, BEAUFORT, SC - 55 year old Denise Peeples Smith and her friend Phyllis Cook were killed when they were struck along I-95 near the Coosawhatchie exit. Smith, owner of East Coast Recovery, was attempting to load a disabled vehicle in the emergency lane when the driver of a truck veered off the road and struck the vehicle being loaded, which then slammed into them. Cook, riding along to keep her friend company, was killed instantly and Smith died later at an area hospital.


School Crossing Guard Hit by Truck

October 1, CHESAPEAKE, VA - 35 year old Lovette Person died after being hit by a truck Monday while working as a school crossing guard. The driver of the truck was partially blinded by the sun and did not see Person in the street. Person was a civilian employee for the Police Department.


Two Die in Truck Crash

October 1, DELCO, ID - 68 year old John O. Tolman of Heyburn and 33 year old Cynthia I. McVey of Fernley, NV were killed when the driver lost control after hitting cows in a roadway Saturday. The Transystems truck loaded with sugar beets went off the road and into some trees after hitting the cows. The incident is under investigation.


Dump Truck Driver Dies in Crash

October 1, HANOVER, MN - 45 year old David Peterson was killed when the dump truck he was driving crashed. The state patrol says Peterson lost control of the dump truck he was driving and hit four parked cars (unoccupied) on a frontage road. The dump truck ended up on its side.


Barbershop Owner Shot to Death

October 1, BROOKLYN, NY - 38 year old Warren Billings was shot to death by a gunman who walked into his store and shot him in front of several customers. Neighbors say he was in an argument with a man Friday night but do not know if that person is the one responsible for Billings' murder Saturday.


Road Worker Struck and Killed

September 30, JOLIET, IL - 28 year old Randy J. Lehnus of Kankakee died after being struck by a truck on a road construction site in Will County. Lehnus was standing in a construction zone after getting out of the piece of heavy equipment he was driving died when a truck also working on the project backed over him, police said.


Wildlife Officer Found Shot to Death

September 30, ST.FRANCISVILLE, LA - 47 year old Sgt. Paul Stuckey of Zachary died of a gunshot wound while investigating a report of night hunting. Stuckey, an officer with Louisiana Wildlife & Fisheries Enforcement Division, was found by local fishermen at the old ferry landing near the banks of the Mississippi River just outside of St. Francisville at daybreak. He had a gunshot wound to the chest and found just outside his patrol vehicle.


Industrial Incident Causes Man's Death

September 30, KEARNEY, NE - 75 year old William Aschoff of Niobrara died in an incident at the Kearney Wastewater Treatment plant Friday. Aschoff was operating a bulldozer near a water-filled sandpit Friday when it fell into the pond. The water is about 30 feet deep.


Crash Claims Lives of Two Deputies

September 30, ASHER, OK - 56 year old Tim Lowry of Saint Louis and 45 year old Mike Roberts of Konawa were both killed in a crash involving a tractor trailer on Friday. The Pottawatomie County Sheriff Deputies were on their way to serve an arrest warrant when they crested a hill where the driver of a semi was attempting to make a U-turn in the middle of the highway.


Roofer Dies After Fall

September 30, KENNEDY TOWNSHIP, PA - 53 year old Dennis Golling died after falling from the roof of Kennedy Township Volunteer Fire Company. Golling worked for a roofing contractor. No other details are available but the incident is under investigation.


Oilfield Worker Struck and Killed

September 29, WILLISTON, ND - 40 year old Eugene Norris Jr. of Dickinson was killed when he was struck by the trailer of a truck Thursday night. Norris had finished filling a water tank at hydraulic fracturing site and was putting his gear away. He was standing near his truck when he was struck by the trailer of another truck.


Rodeo Coach Dies of Head Injuries

September 29, ONTARIO, OR - 42 year old Sonny Hansen died after being thrown from a horse during practice Thursday. Hansen, Rodeo Coach for Treasure Valley Community College, was conducting practice when he was bucked off the horse. He suffered severe head injuries. He died later at a local hospital.


Worker Electrocuted

September 29, BIRMINGHAM, AL - 58 year old David Albert Prest was died Thursday after being electrocuted at Southern Label Company. Prest, a printing press operator, was attempting to re-spool a machine that had stopped due a power interruption. Authorities say a bad plug energized the platform that he was standing on.


Cab Driver Killed by Passengers

September 28, LA JOLLA, CA - an unidentified 68 year old self employed cab driver, possibly from San Diego, was shot to death in a La Jolla neighborhood Wednesday. Witness report seeing the taxi on the side of road, heard arguing and then gunshots. The cab was then driven away and was later found abandoned. UPDATE: Authorities have identified the driver as Sadat Sahou.


Worker Burned in Explosion Last Year Dies

September 28, MEMPHIS, TN - Erica Jarrett died Thursday of injuries she received in an industrial incident in September of 2010. Jarrett was severely burned in an explosion and fire at a military flare plant in West Tennessee. The blast at the Kilgore Flares plant in Toone burned Jarrett and two other workers.


Farmer Dies in Auger Incident

September 28, DUBUQUE, IA - 41 year old Michael Duetmeyer of rural Dyersville died after becoming caught in an auger Wednesday. The sheriff's office says Duetmeyer was working alone inside a silo when he became entangled in the auger being used to clean out the silo.


Bar Owner Shot to Death

September 28, SAVANNAH, GA - 38 year old Kevin Wade was shot and killed Wednesday outside a bar he co-owned. Wade, co-owner of Mr. Wonderful's nightclub, was preparing for the bar's weekly oyster roast when he was shot.


Tree Trimmer Dies From Fall

September 28, PEBBLE BEACH, CA - 46 year old Carlos Amezcua of Salinas died from a fall Wednesday. Amezcua was trimming trees when he fell from the bucket of a boom truck. Cal-OSHA is investigating.


Worker Receives Fatal Electric Shock

September 28, WESTLAKE, LA - Garrick Deshotel was electrocuted Wednesday in an incident at Westlake's PPG plant. Deshotel was a contractor for R & R Construction and was working on a chlor-alkali unit when he came in contact with high-voltage electricity. Deshotel was taken to an area hospital where he died of his injuries.


Construction Worker Electrocuted

September 27, PANAMA CITY, FL - 21 year old Carlos Angeles Francisco died after being electrocuted on a construction job site. The circumstances of the incident are not clear but police say an alert co-worker was able to knock the wires away from Francisco. He later died at a local hospital. OSHA is investigating.


Industrial Incident Kills Worker

September 26, MAXTON, NC - 50 year old Lonnie Collins of Robeson died after his leg was severed at Murphy-Brown LLC plant near Maxton. A company spokesman said Collins’ leg became caught in a machine while he was performing maintenance work. Collins died at the plant from apparent blood loss.


Hospital Worker Dies of Heart Attack

September 26, MIDDLETOWN, CT - 57 year old James B. "Big Jim" Diamond Sr. of Clinton died after being involved in the restraint of an unruly psychiatric patient at Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middleton. Diamond was one of five staff members involved in a "therapeutic hold" on a patient for the purpose of administering drugs. During the struggle, Diamond began to feel ill and staff called for an ambulance. The medical examiner determined Diamond died of cardiac arrest.


U.S. Citizen Killed While Working in Afganistan

September 25, KABUL, AFGANISTAN - 61 year old Jay Henigan of Sycamore, IL was killed in a shoot out at a CIA facility in Kabul on Sunday. Henigan's father says his son had just begun his second stint working as a plumber for the CIA in Kabul. Henigan was shot by an Afghan worker who was providing security to the facility.


Construction Company Owner Dies From Fall

September 24, LANCASTER, PA - 67 year old Raymond L. Bomberger of Millersville died of injuries he suffered in a fall while installing siding on a home. He was standing on a makeshift scaffold about 15 feet from the ground when for an unknown reason he lost his footing and fell. "He was on a 12-inch-wide board stretching from a ladder to a porch roof," the police chief said. Bomberger died instantly of multiple traumatic injuries due to the fall.


Maintenance Worker Dies of Repeated Wasp Stings

September 17, GLEN COVE, NY - 47 year old Stephan Mueller died after being stung repeatedly by hornets while working in Glen Cove. Mueller, who worked for Glen Cove Department of Public Works, was working with co-workers picking up branches and logs by the city water tower at Leech Circle when workers “must have picked up the wrong branch,” disrupting a wasps' nest, Mueller's mother said. Reports say he was stung more than 30 times. While not allergic to bee stings, but the significant amount of stings caused his fatal injuries.













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