Weekly Toll- Death in the American Workplace- September 3-10, 2008

Scaffolding collapse kills 1
SEPT 10, DETROIT, MI -- Workers were dismantling scaffolding at a project near the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit this evening when the scaffolding collapsed, killing Gilbert Danz, 29, of Roseville. Federal records show that the worker's employer, a steel construction company based in Shelbyville, has had 30 violations of safety rules since 2003. The construction is part of the $230 million Ambassador Bridge Gateway Project, scheduled for completion in December 2009.


Railroad worker killed by tanker car

SEPT 10, TERRE HAUTE, IN -- Philip T. Myers, 42, of Clay City, was working with another worker on the property of Tangent Rail Products today when he was struck by a tanker car that had derailed. Authorities are unsure as to why the tanker, which was being pushed slowly down a railroad spur, derailed. Mr. Myers, an active member of the Rail Road/Teamster Union, had worked as a railroad engineer for Indiana Rail Road for over 16 years. He is survived by several family members, including his wife, children, and grandparents.

Farmer killed by auger
SEPT 10, SPRING GROVE, WI -- Farmer Gary E. Goecks, 62, died this afternoon from injuries sustained when his leg became caught in an auger this morning. Mr. Goecks was extricated and flown by helicopter to UW Hospital in Madison, but unfortunately did not survive his injuries.

Carport collapse kills worker

SEPT 10, KENNER, LA -- Robert Aldrich, 51, was taking down a backyard carport Wednesday morning when the structure collapsed on him. According to police, Mr. Aldrich was working beneath the structure when its supports gave way, crushing him. A resident of Colorado, Mr. Aldrich was residing with a relative in New Orleans and was planning to move there.

Fall claims silo builder

SEPT 10, MINNEOLA, KS -- Phil Love, 39, of Wichita, died en route to a hospital this morning after falling 120 feet. Mr. Love was building grain silos at a co-op in southwest Kansas when he fell from the scaffolding. Clark County Sheriff said he suffered massive head trauma and internal injuries.

Worker killed in building collapse

SEPT 10, CHESTER, VA -- Scott Gioradano, 38, of Disputanta, was found dead today after the building in which he was working collapsed. The building he was working in at Chester Village Green, a mixed-use development, was about 80% completed, and authorities are unsure what caused it to collapse. A nearby witness said she heard the crash and saw more than a dozen workers fleeing from the crumbling building. "They came running out fast," she said. "There was so many of them, you couldn't keep count."

Police officer killed in collision
SEPT 9, NEW HAVEN, CT -- The cruisers of two police officers rushing to respond to a violent domestic dispute crashed into one another late Tuesday night, killing one and leaving the other in critical condition. Sgt. Dario "Scott" Aponte, a 17-year veteran of the police department who had recently been promoted, lost his life in the crash. Mr. Aponte is survived by his wife and four children, the youngest of whom is only 4 months old.


Worker killed at lumber mill
SEPT 9, LACLEDE, ID -- A 54-year old employee of Riley Creek Lumber was killed in an accident at their mill in Laclede early Tuesday morning. The name of the victim has not yet been released.

Road construction worker killed
SEPT 9, PRINCE GEORGE, VA -- Road construction contractor Antonio Tenorio, 43, of Lanexa, was working this morning in a marked work zone when he was struck by a dump truck that was backing up. Paramedics rushed to the scene but Mr. Tenorio had already passed away. The incident is under investigation.


Cab driver killed in collision
SEPT 9, ATLANTA, GA -- A Victory Cab Company driver was killed around 1:30 am Tuesday morning when a Jeep Cherokee crossed the center line and hit his cab. Chijioke Eleyi, 44, died at the scene. The other driver, who survived the crash but was seriously injured, was taken to Atlanta Medical Center

State trooper killed in crash

SEPT 9, RALEIGH, NC -- NC State Trooper Andrew J. Stocks, 43, was reporting to the scene of an accident today when his cruiser collided with a garbage truck. Officer Stocks was critically injured at the scene and did not survive being transported to a nearby hospital. Mr. Stocks, who is survived by his wife and child, was celebrating his one-year anniversary of his return from a tour of duty in Iraq. Said his wife: ""Andrew loved his job as a state trooper. "He loved his service to his country, and he wanted to do that back home in the States -- he wanted to continue to serve."


Worker electrocuted at Wal-Mart
SEPT 9, WALPOLE, MA -- Romulos Santos, 47, a native of Brazil who was living in Somerville, was killed today while working with a remodeling team at Wal-Mart. Police said the work crew had accidentally cut through electrical cable and that Mr. Santos was trying to restore the power on his own when he came into contact with live wires. He was pronounced dead at Caritas Norwood Hospital.


Cabbie hit by oncoming traffic
SEPT 9, QUEENS, NYC, NY -- Winston Franks, 56, a livery cab driver, was killed while working Tuesday evening. Mr. Franks apparently got into an argument with a passenger who was sitting in the front seat, and she pushed him out of his car while he was driving. He was clinging to his seatbelt when he was hit by oncoming traffic in Ozone Park. The passenger switched to his seat and fled the scene. Mr. Franks is survived by his wife of 12 years, who said of her husband: "He was a very hard working man. He didn't interfere with anyone. He just went out there, tried to make a dollar to help his family."


Worker crushed by forklift
SEPT 8, VINELAND, NJ -- Julio A. Rivera, 37, was working at Rudco Products Monday afternoon when another employee lost control of a forklift and the machine pinned Mr. Rivera against a trash compactor. He was transported to South Jersey Healthcare-Regional Medical Center but pronounced dead shortly thereafter.





Father dies saving his son

SEPT 8, NOKESVILLE, VA -- A father and son were working in their backyard Monday afternoon when tragedy struck. The son, who suffers from Down's Syndrome, fell through a piece of metal covering an opening in a the septic tank. Witnesses say his father, Thomas S. Vander Woude, 66, jumped into the tank and submerged himself in sewage so he could push his son's head up to the surface. When rescue teams arrived, he was unconscious and they were unable to revive him. Now family and friends say Mr. Vander Woude's final sacrifice reflects the kind of person he was. Said his wife of 43 years: "He lived sacrificing his life, everything, for his family." Said a neighbor: "He's the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back. And if he didn't have one, he'd buy one for you." Mr. Vander Woude, a Vietnam veteran and retired commercial airline pilot, was an active church member, a local farmer, and a coach for his son's basketball team.


Worker dies at oil and gas well pad
SEPT 9, GRAND JUNCTION, CO -- Talliesin Dodd Hayden, 38, of Butte, Montana, died from injuries sustained yesterday in an accident Halliburton's Laramie Energy well pad. Mr. Hayden was providing wireline service when a cable broke, causing a 29-foot long, 100-pound tube to strike him in the head. He died Tuesday afternoon at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand junction from multiple injuries, including head trauma.


Hospital security guard killed
SEPT 7, PORTLAND, ME -- James Angelo, 27, a security guard at Mercy Hospital, died Sunday morning from gunshot wounds. Hospital employees heard gunshots and found Mr. Angelo, who was taking his break, in a fenced-in parking lot around 4 am. Police are seeking help in tracking down two suspects witnesses saw fleeing the scene.


Worker dies after trench collapse
SEPT 6, SEATTLE, WA -- A construction worker who survived a trench collapse on Thursday has died from the injuries he sustained. Steven Dale Slee, 28, was working at a Rainier Vista construction project when 7,000 pounds of compacted dirt fell from the side of a trench. Rescuers used an airbag and ladders to reach him.


Cab driver killed by alleged drunk driver
SEPT 6, DENVER, CO -- Solomon Abraham, 33, died Saturday night after his cab was struck by a drunk driver who had run a stop sign. A hard worker, Mr. Abraham worked at least 16 hours a day driving for Yellow Cab. He was formerly a teacher and lawyer in Ethiopia, but had risked his life to get asylum in the United States. "He believed that America had the best democracy in the world, and so that's why he came here and he was hoping to raise his children in peace," said a friend. Mr. Abraham is survived by a wife and two children, who friends say are lost without him. The drunk driver, Darian Blackwell, 21, has been charged and is due in court next week.


Police officer, salon employee killed
SEPT 6, MARTINEZ, CA -- On Saturday morning, witnesses say Jose Felix Sandoval arrived with a gun at Elegant Hair Design searching for his ex-wife, the owner of the salon. Gunfire erupted behind the salon shortly thereafter. The owner's cousin, Catalina Torres, 44, a part-time salon employee and mother of two, was fatally shot, as was Sgt. Paul Starzyk, 47, a 12-year police veteran and father of three. The gunman was later shot and killed by police.


Man killed in industrial accident
SEPT 6, CHATTANOOGA, TN -- A worker at ACME Industrial Piping reported Saturday that he had found a man crushed under a gate that had fallen on him. The gate weighed several thousand pounds. Michael Reid, 55, a painter employed by Pro-Coat, was sandblasting the gate when it fell. He was pronounced dead at the scene. “Both (ACME and Pro-Coat) are family businesses, very tight knit,” said ACME President Jim Bailey. “Anytime something like this happens, it gets to the heart of the whole industry.”


Businessman shot in his office
SEPT 5, TULSA, OK -- Businessman Neal Sweeney, 63 was working at his business, Retail Fuels Marketing, this morning when a gunman wearing sunglasses and a hooded sweatshirt walked calmly into his office suite and shot him in the head. Police have no indication the shooter was a former employee but witnesses said he seemed to know his way around the large office complex. He is still at large.


Police officer killed in crash
SEPT 5, PHILADELPHIA, PA -- Officer Isabel Nazario and her partner were assisting in trying to pull over the driver of a stolen vehicle Friday evening when the vehicle struck the passenger side of the cruiser where she was sitting. Ms. Nazario was an 18-year veteran of the police force with a "stellar record." An emotional vigil was held Sunday morning on the street corner where she was killed.


Worker dies saving his son
SEPT 5, PHOENIX, AZ -- A father and son were two of several workers moving 50 lb. pallets up to 25 feet high at Carlton Custom Woodworks when several particleboards came loose and fell. The father, age 46, reportedly pushed his 19-year old son out of the way of the falling boards, but couldn't escape himself. Police said the son was cradling his father's head in his lap when emergency personnel arrived at the scene. His father had already died.


1 killed, 4 injured in road crash
SEPT 4, SANTA PAULA, CA -- 1 man was killed and four injured Thursday after a semi truck hauling a trailer lost control crashed into a road clean-up crew on Highway 126. The worker killed, Christopher Hayes, 22, of Las Vegas, was part of Ventura County's work-release program, a program which allows individuals convicted of relatively minor offenses to trade jail time for community service.


Construction worker falls 40 stories
SEPT 4, NEW YORK, NY -- A subcontracted construction worker Anthony Espito, 43, was working to dismantle a crane Thursday outside a Manhattan skyscraper when he apparently lost his footing and fell 40 stories to the concrete below. Mr. Espito, who was killed instantly, had been wearing a safety harness, but it was not attached to anything. "When this happens, it's heartbreaking," said Pedro Cedeno, an ironworker at the site. "It's like your own family." Said another, ""This happens. We live with that."


Police officer killed in accident
Sept. 4 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 12-year veteran of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Christopher Kane, 38, was killed early Thursday when his cruiser hit a parked construction truck. Mr. Kane was on his way home after his shift when his cruiser struck the parked vehicle. He is survived by his wife and two children.


Worker crushed by well-drilling rig
SEPT 4 ,CHESTER COUNTY, Pa. - A Lebanon County man was killed when a well-drilling rig toppled over at a work site in Chester County Thursday afternoon. The rig's 25-foot mast struck and killed 44-year-old Gregory Martin, of Myerstown, officials said. Martin was working as a driller's helper at the time.

Machine operator dies in tractor accident
SEPT 4, NOGALES, AZ- Jaime Lillywhite, 43, a well-known local heavy machinery operator died instantly on Thursday morning after being trampled by the track of a 49-ton Caterpillar D9 tractor. According to the Nogales Police Department, Lillywhite "was pinned by a portion of the track" and suffered "massive trauma to the upper torso."

Industrial accident claims one
SEPT 4, MARTIN COUNTY, TX -- Auturo Urias of Midland was working by a caliche pit off Highway 349 today when his car stopped working. He had gotten under the car to fix some hydraulic problems and asked another worker to start the engine, not realizing that the truck was in gear. He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter at Midland Memorial Hospital.