On average, almost 100 workers are killed every week in the United States due to traumatic injuries suffered at work. Over 20 times as many die from occupational diseases, many due to exposure to hazardous substances many years before they died, or from COVID-19 acquired at work. The few narratives below (gathered from almost 100 Google News searches) do not come close to capturing the full toll that work takes on the working people of this country — even in normal years, much less during the COVID pandemic. Nevertheless the accounts below gave you a taste of the preventable carnage occurring in workplaces across the country every day.
Coroner identifies 2 who died at Big Rivers in Henderson
HENDERSON, Ky. (WFIE) – Henderson dispatch confirmed Tuesday afternoon that rescue crews were working to help two people who fell into what was described as a manhole at Big Rivers Green Plant. Donna Stinnett with the City of Henderson announced Tuesday evening that those two people died. The Henderson County Coroner identified the men as Eric Williams, 34, of Henderson County, and Phillip Hill, 39, of Muhlenberg County. Big Rivers Electric Corporation released more information in a press release saying that the hole was actually a drainage collection system. Big Rivers also said in the release that one of the people involved was believed to be a Big Rivers employee while the other was an employee of their contractor. Stinnett said crews were on the scene for hours trying to remove them from the drainage system. Officials said there were toxic fumes in the hole and conditions were cramped. They said that made recovering the pair difficult. Stinnett said crews from Henderson, Owensboro and Evansville were all on scene, with hazmat specialists and rope rescue personnel on standby to get them free. It is unknown at this time how the two people involved died. It is also unknown how they fell into the hole.
Worker killed in industrial accident in Salisbury
SALISBURY, N.C. (WBTV) – Police in Salisbury have confirmed that one person was killed while on the job at a local industrial facility on Thursday. Reaver Boone Vaughn, 61, died at the Granges location on Jake Alexander Boulevard. Police arrived at the facility just before 3:30 a.m. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s preliminary investigation determined that the victim had been in an accident involving a forklift. The local OSHA division is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the fatal accident. No further information will be released until a report is finalized, according to the agency. Granges America is in aluminum engineering, manufacturing and innovation. In February 2019, three workers were assessed by emergency responders after a blast from inside a large furnace blew a steel door some 50 yards across the room at the Granges facility.
Road Crew Worker Killed In Hit-Run Crash In Washington County
Washington County, MD — Police in Maryland are investigating a fatal hit-and-run crash that killed a 34-year-old construction worker who was on the job when he was struck, state officials said. Capitol Heights resident Ever Anibal Aleman Ramos was working on I-70 west near Route 66 in Washington County shortly before 4:20 a.m. on Monday, June 13 when he was struck while working in a construction zone. According to the preliminary state police investigation, Ramos was part of a road crew that was backing up in the left lane of eastbound I-70 and removing construction barrels from a previous roadway project. Ramos was pulling barrels from the roadway behind a crash attenuator truck when he was struck by an unknown vehicle that sped away from the scene, investigators said.
Tow truck driver killed in collision while recovering an abandoned vehicle on I-10 East
NEW ORLEANS, LA (WGNO) – A man is dead and another in jail, after a deadly crash in New Orleans East early Saturday morning, according to the New Orleans Police Department. Just before 2:50, officers said they were called to the scene of a crash on Interstate 10 East near Ridgeway Drive and when they arrived they found a man lying on the shoulder of the roadway, unresponsive. He was pronounced dead on the scene. Investigations revealed, a tow truck was on the scene picking up a disabled unoccupied van located on the shoulder of the interstate when for reasons unknown a black Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck heading east, collided with the back of the van. Police said the van then crashed into the tow truck, striking the driver during the incident. The pickup truck came to rest in a grassy area near the interstate.
Sheriff’s Deputy Killed in Wicomico County, Maryland
Pittsville, MD — A sheriff’s deputy was fatally shot in Pittsville, Maryland, while attempting an arrest, the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office said early Monday. Deputy 1st Class Glenn Hilliard was shot “while attempting to apprehend a fugitive who was wanted on multiple felony warrants in multiple jurisdictions,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. Hilliard was 41. Hilliard saw the suspect coming out of an apartment complex in Pittsville, about 20 miles west of Ocean City, and began to chase him. He was then shot, the sheriff’s office said. The suspect, whose name was not immediately released, was captured after an “extensive manhunt” by dozens of officers from across the region.
Hilliard was a husband and father of three, and served as a law enforcement officer for 16 years, the sheriff’s office said. He had recently transferred back to patrol upon request.
Sun City firefighter dies while on duty
SUN CITY, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) – Sun City fire officials announced Sunday morning that one of their firefighters died on Saturday while on duty. It is with a very heavy heart that we announce the on-duty death of one of our firefighters yesterday morning. No further details are being released as of yet, but funeral arrangements are to follow in the coming days. Thank you to all departments, individuals, and others for your condolences and reaching out. The firefighter’s identity and cause of death have not been released yet
U.S. 95 reopened to traffic 10 hours after deadly crash
LAS VEGAS, NV (KLAS) — The police detective killed in a crash on U.S. 95 Friday morning has been identified as 45-year-old Detective Justin Terry, according to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. Terry died when a steel beam fell on his unmarked police vehicle as he was driving in the southbound lanes of U.S. 95 near Centennial Parkway. The 21-year Metro veteran leaves behind a wife and two sons. LVMPD Detective Justin Terry leaves behind a wife and two sons. The crash happened in a Nevada Department of Transportation construction zone. Trooper Ashley Wellman with Nevada State Police said a tractor-trailer, carrying a piece of construction equipment, was traveling south on U.S. 95 when it hit a steel beam that was part of the construction site causing it to fall onto the car. T
Long Island firefighter dies during water rescue training
Hauppage, NY — A Long Island firefighter died while conducting drills Saturday morning. Former Hauppauge Fire Chief Stephen Feron died suddenly while training with the Suffolk County Urban Search and Rescue Team, the Hauppage Fire Department said. He died during water rescue drills, sources told The Post. Feron was a second chief in the hamlet; his father, also named Stephen, served as chief from 1985 to 1988, officials said. His body was taken to the medical examiner’s office by the Central Islip Hauppauge Ambulance Company, where neighboring fire departments gathered to pay their respects, according to the statement. Feron’s family members declined to talk about the fatal incident when contacted by The Post and fire officials could not be reached for further comment.
3 dead, trooper wounded in Maryland shooting
SMITHSBURG, Md. (AP) — An employee opened fire at a manufacturing business in rural western Maryland on Thursday, killing three coworkers before the suspect and a state trooper were wounded in a shootout, authorities said. Washington County Sheriff Doug Mullendore said that three victims were found dead at Columbia Machine Inc. in Smithsburg and a fourth victim was critically injured. The sheriff said at a news conference that the victims and suspect were all employees at the facility. The suspect fled in a vehicle before authorities arrived at the scene and was tracked down by Maryland State Police, Mullendore said. The suspect and a trooper were wounded in an exchange of gunfire, according to the sheriff. The sheriff identified those killed in the shooting as Mark Alan Frey, 50; Charles Edward Minnick Jr., 31; and Joshua Robert Wallace, 30.
Father identifies worker killed in Boston Seaport construction incident
BOSTON, MA — One truck driver was killed and another person was injured at a construction site Thursday morning in Boston’s Seaport neighborhood. Emergency crews were called to a parking lot near the District Hall building, between Northern Avenue and Seaport Boulevard, shortly after 5:30 a.m., police said. In the area, police tape could be seen surrounding a tractor-trailer carrying granite curb slabs. Several of the slabs were in a broken pile on the ground near the truck. James Chaffee Jr., 38, of Westfield, was killed when one of the slabs fell, his father said. The accident involved curbstones that were being dropped off at a storage area, according to the Globe. Jeff Newton, a spokesman for MassCOSH, an advocacy group for workplace safety, told the Globe that the victim was working “around the unloading of street curbing material when the heavy blocks became loose and crushed him.” Chaffee has been driving trucks for about 20 years and was always very careful, his father also said. He leaves behind a wife and two stepchildren.
Authorities ID security guard killed in fall at Brookline’s The Country Club amid US Open preparations
BROOKLINE, Mass. — A security guard died overnight after a fall at The Country Club in Brookline, where preparations are underway for the upcoming U.S. Open Championship. The victim, David C. McConnell, a resident of Revere, fell from an area of decking with no railings behind a tent at some point during the night, the Norfolk County District Attorney’s office said. McConnell’s body was discovered Wednesday morning. The Country Club said McConnell was hired by the U.S. Golf Association.
Meridian Officer Shot and Killed
ACKERMAN, Miss. (WTVA) – The man accused of murdering a Meridian police officer and a pregnant woman was captured Friday morning in Ackerman. Dante Marquez Bender, 31, was captured at a gas station at approximately 10:30. Law enforcement officers hunted Bender after he allegedly murdered officer Kennis Croom and Brittany Jones Thursday afternoon. Jones was Bender’s fiancée, WTOK-TV in Meridian reported. Croom was shot when he responded to a reported domestic violence situation at a home on 51st Avenue in Meridian. Officers found Jones dead inside the home. Croom was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Meridian Police Chief Deborah Young said Thursday was Croom’s day off but he chose to work anyway.
3-year-old child, truck driver killed in crash on I-95 near Fayetteville
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) — A crash on Interstate 95 near Fayetteville killed one adult and a 3-year-old child, according to the State Highway Patrol. The northbound lanes from NC 87 to NC 24 were closed for hours after the crash involving a semi-truck and van on Thursday morning. Investigators say two vehicles were traveling northbound when the semi didn’t slow down, overcorrected and hit a Dodge Ram Van. The crash caused the truck to go off the road and overturn. The truck driver and child died from their injuries.
Owner of West Gardiner construction company dies from injuries suffered in roof collapse in Naples
Naples, FL — The owner of a West Gardiner construction company has died from his injuries a day after a roof collapsed on him at a job site Tuesday, a spokesperson for Maine Medical Center said. The accident took place just before 1 p.m. at Captain Jack’s Restaurant and Naples Marina, where a crew from Malloy Construction Inc. was working on a renovation and expansion. Shane Malloy, 44, of West Gardiner, and Harold Collins, 44, of Vassalboro, were taken to the Portland hospital with what authorities described as life-threatening injuries. Hospital spokeswoman Caroline Cornish said Wednesday that Malloy had died.
Rice mill employee dies in crane collapse, police say
Pine Bluff, AR — A truck-mounted crane toppled at the Producers Rice Mill on Kansas Street in Pine Bluff on Tuesday, killing a man. An employee of Producers Rice Mill in Pine Bluff died Tuesday after a truck-mounted crane fell over and struck the person, authorities said. The accident occurred at the mill at 121 S. Kansas St. Police said a crew of outside contractors were working with the crane when it fell over. Jefferson County Coroner Chad Kelley pronounced the employee, Woodrow Kyle Vaughn, 26, dead at the scene at 10:55 a.m. Vaughn would have turned 27 on June 19. Vaughn’s body will be sent to the state medical examiner on Wednesday, Kelley said. Police do not suspect any criminal violation or foul play. Officers stayed at the scene with Kelley to assist with the investigation. “The incident appears to be a heartbreaking industrial accident,” police Lt. David DeFoor wrote in the release.
Amazon working to ensure workers’ safety after shooting at Horn Lake facility
Horn Lake, MS — After a Friday incident in which a man shot and killed a woman in an Amazon facility at Horn Lake before later being shot to death by Memphis police, the Amazon Fulfillment Center in Madison County continues to prepare for a July 18 opening. “We’re heartbroken by this violent act, and we extend our deepest sympathy to the victim’s family,” Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement. “We are working to support our team and ensure their safety. We’re also working closely with the police department as they lead the response and investigate.” According to The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, the woman killed was Friday morning and later identified as 44-year-old Ebony Crockett.
Hospital worker dies after struck in groin by patient in South Carolina, police say
SUMTER, S.C. (WGHP) — A hospital worker is dead after he was injured by a woman who was allegedly trying to escape the hospital during a court-ordered visit, according to the Sumter Police Department. On May 27, officers say Imani Cox, 27, was in Prisma Health Tuomey for a court-ordered evaluation. According to police, Cox was trying to walk out of the building when security tried to stop her. She allegedly became “aggressive and began to fight with employees,” police said. She reportedly hit at least two employees, including mental health technician Kevin Robinson who was struck in the groin. Robinson got sick and became unresponsive, police say. After a few days, Robinson died. Investigators are awaiting the results of an autopsy to confirm Robinson’s cause of death. Cox was taken to a hospital in the Columbia area and, after her treatment, was charged with second-degree assault and battery.
Police officer killed in crash was 34-year-old man with 4 years on Tallahassee force, union says
Tallahassee, FL — An on-duty Tallahassee Police Department officer was killed when his patrol vehicle collided with a car driven by an attempted homicide suspect fleeing the police at around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday. The officer has been identified by the Florida Police Benevolent Association Big Bend chapter as a 34-year-old man who had been on the Tallahassee police force for four years. He previously had served at Wilton Manors Police Department in Broward County, according to a statement by Richard Murphy, president of the chapter, which represents nearly 500 law enforcement officers. “This tragic loss is a painful reminder that law enforcement officers are often victims of violent criminal acts and they put their lives at risk on a daily basis to serve and protect others,” Murphy said.
24-year-old killed in workplace mishap
Elizabethtown, KY — A 24-year-old Metalsa employee was killed early Tuesday morning in a workplace mishap. Lance Winemiller, 24, of Elizabethtown was struck accidentally by a forklift, Elizabethtown police confirmed in a statement this morning. As a result of injuries sustained, Winemiller was pronounced dead at the scene by the Hardin County coroner’s office. Police were called to the plant on North Black Branch Road just before 3 a.m. today to conduct a death investigation.
27-year-old dump truck driver killed in Cleburne County crash
Heflin, AL — A dump truck driver died Monday after authorities say he jumped from his moving vehicle before it crashed into a Cleburne County creek. Alabama state troopers identified the fatality victim as Deven J. Lancaster. He was 27 and lived in Oxford. The crash happened at 1:07 p.m. Monday on Cleburne County 13, about two miles south of Heflin. Senior Trooper Justin O’Neal said Lancaster was driving a 1984 Mack dump truck that left the road, struck a guardrail and overturned in a creek. Lancaster had jumped from his vehicle while it was in motion.
Dump Truck Driver Killed In U.S. 301 Crash
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — A 57-year-old Wimauma man died Monday afternoon on U.S. Highway 301 when the dump truck he drove flipped over in a crash, Florida Highway Patrol said. A 21-year-old Wimauma man turned his car onto U.S. 301 from Lightfoot Road at 12:02 p.m. when he pulled his car out in front of the dump truck, troopers said. Troopers said that the dump truck driver tried to prevent hitting the car by quickly turning away. This caused the truck to flip over. A medical examiner pronounced the 57-year-old man dead at the crash location, troopers said.