Monday, October 15, 2012

The Weekly Toll: Death in the American Workplace

Our hearts and minds are with those who have lost a family member or friend.  Please allow to help if we can in any way.

Worker Dies of Electrocution

April 3, 2012 - Wichita Falls, TX - 39 year old Michael Glenn Tramell  was electrocuted when he attempted to restore power to the lease that had been knocked out earlier morning by storms. The company he worked for, Halcon Resources Corp. was cited for two willful and seven serious safety violations for this incident.


Truck Driver Dies in Crash

September 21 - Bonney Lake, WA - 60 year old Roger Adkins of Pacific died in a fiery truck crash after he left the roadway and his truck burst into flames. Adkins was driving a Fed Ex truck but was employed by MJM Trucking Inc. Reports state Adkins may have suffered a medical condition causing him to go off the road.

Heart Failure Causes Death

September 22 - Seattle, WA - 71 year old Felix Lagasca was a dishwasher at Gwinn Commons, Seattle Pacific University, for close to 25 years. Lagasca fell ill and was sent home only to collapse. He died of heart failure in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.

Worker Shot For Unknown Reason

September 26 - Campbellsville, KY - Wendell "Gleason" Pyles was shot to death at his place of employment, Tarter Gate Company in Dunneville, by individuals who have been arrested. It is unclear what caused the shooting.

Tow Truck Driver Struck

September 29 - Columbus, OH - 60 year old Bill Houck, a tow truck driver for Broad & James, was struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver while he was attempting to load a disabled vehicle. The suspected drunk driver hit the disabled vehicle which slammed into Houck, killing him.

Man Dies of Head Injuries

October 3 - Bakersfield, CA - 54 year old Barry Snelson was killed and another co-worker injured when a false bottom of a tank collapsed under them.  The men were testing a welding job by pressurizing the tank when the bottom fell, causing them to hit some pipes. Snelson struck his head and died of those injuries. The men worked for Brahma Group at Live Oak Cogan plant in Oildale.

Man Falls to Death at Warehouse

October 3 - Columbus, GA - 34 year old Gary Vielweber died after falling about 25 feet through the roof of a building he was working on. He was on a construction site in the Columbia Industrial Park and was an employee of Allstate Roofing Company.   

Elderly Harvest Worker Dies

October 3 - Bridgewater, ME - 80 year old Dorothy Rusby was struck and killed by a potato truck at Snow Road Farms where she worked. Police say she was working in the potato house and when a truck was leaving after a delivery, she was struck. The driver did not realize she was near his truck. Other employees say she had worked for the farm for a number of years and always loved the harvest season. 

Truck Driver Dies in Rollover

October 4 - Wichita, KS - 52 year old Abdaikarim Mohamed Haile of St. Cloud, MN was killed when the semi truck he was driving overturned on a curve near a toll booth of the Kansas Turnpike. Police say he was most likely traveling too fast into the curve. He suffered fatal head injuries. 

Workers Killed in Crash

October 4 - Duluth, MN - 25 year old Zachary M. Gamache of Esko and 29 year old Mitchell D. Lingren of Duluth died in a crash caused by a driver who was found to have drugs in her car. Gamache's truck, Lingren was a passenger, was struck after the other driver crossed the center line. That action sent Gamache's truck into the path of another vehicle. Both men worked for Carlton County Highway Works and were on their way to lay out directional lines for a scheduled culvert replacement in Wright.

State Trooper Struck and Killed

October 5 - Hanover, VA - 27 year old Andrew Fox of Tazewell, and a Virginia State Trooper, was struck by an SUV while directing traffic at an intersection in Hanover County. Fox was wearing the appropriate protective gear along with other troopers working with him. Traffic lights were flashing yellow for each direction yet the driver still crashed into him.

Worker Dies in Crane Incident

October 5 - Roanoke Rapids, NC -  Jimmy Denney of Roanoke Rapids died in what appears to involve a crane. He was employed by Tak Investments who was opening a recycling facility. A spokesman said either Denney was trapped in the crane or it fell on him.

Farm Incident Kills Man

October 5 - Durand, WI - 56 year old Eugene Hayden died while trying to harvest his crops on his farm near Lima. Reports do not specify what happened, but said a gravity box was involved in his death. 

Bouncer Killed by Patron

October 6 - Toledo, OH - 38 year old John R. White of Lake Township died of a skull fracture after being punched by a patron he was ejecting from the Deja Vu Club. White worked as security for the club. The suspect in the assault has been arrested.



















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