Last week: Workers run over by vehicles, drowned, killed in falls, crushed by trees and equipment and shot. On average, over 100 workers are killed every week in the United States due to traumatic injuries suffered at work. More than 20 times as many die from occupational diseases, many due to exposure to hazardous substances many years before they died. 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. Nevertheless the accounts below gave you a taste of the preventable carnage occurring in workplaces across the country every day.
Construction worker, 22, hit, killed while on the job in Orange County
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Troopers said a 22-year-old construction worker is dead after he was hit by a construction vehicle while on the job early Thursday morning. In a news release, the Florida Highway Patrol said it happened shortly before 12:30 a.m. on State Road 429 at mile marker 26 in Orange County. According to officials, the 62-year-old driver of the vehicle did not see the worker walking in the roadway of the active construction zone when he began backing up the vehicle, hitting the worker. The worker was taken to Advent Health Apopka Hospital where he died of his injuries. His name was not released, but troopers said he was from Sanford.
Construction worker dies after driver crashes into him at Gateway project in Clearwater, troopers say
CLEARWATER, Fla. — A 55-year-old construction worker in Clearwater was hit and killed by a car on Thursday night while he flagged traffic for the Gateway Expressway project, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. FHP said the man was hit by an SUV that was traveling westbound on 118th Street North, approaching 43rd Street North. It happened just after 10 p.m. The driver of the SUV, a 77-year-old man from Seminole, suffered minor injuries.
Man dies in Kansas refinery accident
MONTGOMERY COUNTY,KANSAS — Authorities are investigating a fatal accident at a refinery in Montgomery County, Kansas. An employee at the Coffeyville refinery, 808 E New Street, Coffeyville, was transported from the refinery to an area hospital following an incident on Friday, according to a statement from Brandee Stephens, Director of Corporate Affairs at the refinery. The employee died. The refinery was undergoing maintenance activities at the time. The company has reported the incident to regulators and an investigation is underway. Officials have not released the victim’s name or additional details.
70-year-old construction worker dies after worksite fall
SOUTH JORDAN, Utah — A 70-year-old construction worker died after falling at a worksite in South Jordan on Thursday. The accident happened around 11100 South 2865 West. According to South Jordan City Police Sgt. Eric Anderson, the 70-year-old fell 10 feet, hit his head and died at the scene. While the man hit his head, Anderson said the exact cause of death is still under investigation.
Worker struck and killed by front end loader Friday at Kansas City waste disposal site
Kansas City, MO — The employee of a Kansas City waste disposal site was killed on Friday after being hit by a Volvo Heavy Front End Loader, according to police. Officers were called to the site at 4:28 p.m. on 4020 Winchester Avenue on reports a pedestrian was fatally struck by the vehicle, said Officer Donna Drake, a spokeswoman for the Kansas City Police Department. An investigation determined the victim was working at the site before being struck by the vehicle. Authorities declared her dead shortly after the crash. The driver was not injured. This is the 13th vehicle-related fatality reported in Kansas City for 2023. There had been 26 fatalities reported by this time in 2022, according to Drake.
Fatal Accident on Fuel Barge in NYC Harbor Prompts Safety Reminder
Staten Island, NY — A fatal accident is serving as a reminder of the dangers when performing seemingly routine tasks. Reports are indicating that a 53-year-old crewmember working for Centerline, a tug and barge operator that provides fueling services and transports petroleum between refineries and terminals, was killed early Thursday morning. The company terms the circumstances of the accident as a reminder to raise situational awareness around everyday tasks. The crewmember with more than 20 years experience was at the company’s dock on the Kill Van Kull Channel near Staten Island, New York reportedly offloading trash around 6:00 am while it was still dark outside when he misjudged distances between two barges. He fell between the barges. Other crew at the scene tried to recover the individual and also called for New York City’s rescue teams.
Employee killed after being pinned at Wichita construction company
Wichita, KS — A man in his 60s died while working at a construction company after getting pinned in an industrial accident, Sgt. Jerry Manuel said. The death happened when a vehicle’s axle fell off and landed on 68-year-old David Adams, of Towanda, a Sedgwick County Emergency Communications supervisor said. The accident was reported about 2 p.m. at Wildcat Construction Company, 3219 W. May which is northeast of Pawnee and Southwest Boulevard. The man was pronounced dead by first responders at 2:30 p.m., Manuel said.
Body of man who died in St. Lucie County mining incident recovered
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — One person is dead at a Port St. Lucie construction site where deputies responded to an industrial accident on Wednesday. The victim has been identified by his family as 43-year-old Kenneth Wright, a father of two daughters and a stepson. He worked for Vulcan Materials for several years and is in a management position. Deputies responded to Vulcan Materials on Range Line Road at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday in response to an industrial accident. Wright was on an excavator when it fell with him on it into the quarry when the ground gave way, according to the family. The water is about 35 feet deep, and divers were called off Wednesday because of the murkiness, but the investigation is continued Friday. According to the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office, at approximately 6:25 p.m., on Thursday an outside dive company assisted with recovering the body of the victim, who was operating the excavator at the time of the accident.
Construction worker dead after falling from new bridge at UVa
Charlottesville, VA — A construction worker died after falling from a bridge at the Contemplative Commons project site at the University of Virginia on Tuesday, a university spokesman told The Daily Progress in a statement. The worker fell Tuesday, March 14, from the west connector bridge that leads to the Ridley Building, which houses the School of Education and Human Development, and was transported to UVa Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries. His name has not been released.
Pacific County logger dies in accident
WILLAPA HILLS, WA — First responders from Pacific County Fire District 3, the Raymond Fire Department and the South Bend Fire Department responded to a report Thursday, March 16, of an injured logger who was unconscious and not breathing at about 1:30 p.m. three miles off of SR 6 near milepost 12. Airlift was initially requested but was cancelled after responders assessed the patient and attempted lifesaving efforts but determined that the man had succumbed to his injuries. According to radio traffic for the call, the reporting party, a fellow crewman, stated the logger was hit by a log and sustained extensive injuries to his chest and was crushed. Due to the injuries, fellow crew members were unable to perform CPR.
Man Dies In Industrial Plant Cement Mixer Accident In Cantonment
Cantonment, FL — A man died in an industrial accident in Cantonment Wednesday afternoon. The man was reportedly working inside or fell inside an industrial plant cement mixing machine when it was turned on at a plant on Highway 95A north of Quintette Road about 4:30 p.m. The man was pronounced deceased at the scene of the accident at Foley Products, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. The ECSO investigation is continuing.
State investigating construction death
ARCHDALE, NC — An investigation is underway into the death of a 41-year-old Archdale man at a commercial construction work site in Greensboro late last month. Aaron Billy Hurtado died Feb. 25 while working on the fourth floor of a building under renovation along Green Valley Road near the Friendly Center shopping complex. A 911 emergency call from the day of the fatality indicates that Hurtado fell 10 feet.
Man, 20, killed in Queens robbery: police
RICHMOND HILL, Queen, NY — A Queens smoke shop employee was shot and killed Saturday during a robbery, according to police. Three men entered The Plug smoke shop on Jamaica Avenue around noon, according to police. The men robbed the smoke shop and shot the employee, 20, in the chest, police said. The man was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the NYPD. No arrests had been made, as of Saturday night.
Texas firefighter-EMT dies by suicide on duty
BRADY, Texas — Brady Fire/EMS Engineer-EMT William “Bill” Fore died last Thursday, the city of Brady announced Friday on Facebook. He died by suicide while on duty, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Fellow firefighters noticed that Fore missed roll-call at 7:45 a.m. They discovered him severely injured at the station. He was immediately transported to an area hospital.
Man dies in commercial truck crash in Barren County
GLASGOW, Ky. – An Alabama man is dead after police say a commercial vehicle left the road and crashed in Barren County for unknown reasons. The Kentucky State Police says it received a request from the Barren County Sheriff’s Office on Monday just before 3:30 p.m. to investigate a fatal collision. KSP says troopers responded to the location at the 6000 block of Nobob Road in Glasgow. Police say an investigation shows the driver, Dea’andre Q. Taylor, 25, of Pinson, Alabama was traveling northbound in a 2023 International commercial truck and trailer on Nobob Road. Taylor’s vehicle then left the right shoulder of the road for unknown reasons before reentering the road, crossing both lanes and crashing into an embankment, police say. As a result, police say the truck overturned. Taylor was pronounced dead at the scene by the Barren County Coroner’s Office.
Construction worker dies in Louisville
Louisville, KY — A construction worker was killed in Louisville after he was crushed by a piece of equipment over the weekend. The incident occurred Saturday in the 300 block of Troon Court, according to Louisville Crime Prevention Specialist Scott Moore. Moore said the case remains under investigation, and no further information was releasable at this time. The worker has been identified by the Boulder County Coroner’s Office as Eli Gabriella, 40.
Tow truck driver – a retired Marine, father and fiancé – killed helping clean up crash on I-85 in Newnan
NEWNAN, Ga. — A retired Marine, a father and soon to be husband lost his life while doing his job on Wednesday morning in Coweta County. Toby Bowden, 49, who worked for Parkers Towing in Newnan was dispatched out to a crash on I-85 northbound near the Highway 29 exit a short time before 7 a.m. As we he was standing in the emergency lane helping in the clean-up of the crash, troopers saw a driver come up on the crash site at a high rate of speed before losing control of his car as he swerved to miss firetrucks who were helping block lanes for first responders. Troopers said the vehicle started to spin out of control before hitting Bowden. He died on scene. The Coweta County Sheriff’s Office confirmed one of their deputies was also hurt who was standing nearby but is expected to survive.
Truck driver killed in 3-vehicle crash on I-95 in Maryland
Beltsville, MD — A truck driver was killed early Tuesday in a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 95 in Beltsville that also left three other people hurt, according to Maryland State Police. Delando Woody, 56, of New Jersey, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 5:30 a.m., police said in a news release. State police said their preliminary investigation indicates that a Dodge Charger, traveling southbound on I-95, struck a Toyota truck. Investigators believe that caused the truck to overturn into the median, while the Charger crossed over the median and was then struck by the northbound tractor trailer driven by Woody.
Kingsport truck driver killed in crash in Alabama
UNIONTOWN, Ala. — A crash involving three tractor-trailers in Marengo County, Alabama, claimed the life of a Kingsport man. According to Alabama State Troopers, the incident occurred around 12:55 a.m. on March 9 about one mile west of Uniontown on U.S. 80. The accident began when a 2014 Freightliner driven by Santiago R. Sanchez, 57, of Alamo, Texas, struck a 2021 Freightliner driven by Ernest L. Emfinger, 54, of Meadville, Mississippi. Emfinger’s vehicle then collided with a 2020 Freightliner driven by James W. Davis, 55, of Kingsport. Davis was pronounced dead at the scene.
Community mourns Missouri officer killed on the job: ‘A pillar of our community’
Hermann, MO — A St. Louis County, Kenneth Lee Simpson, 34, of Eureka, man faces charges Tuesday in connection to the fatal shooting of one Hermann police officer and the wounding of another. According to court documents, officers were called to investigate an “irate person” at a Casey’s convenience store just outside of downtown Hermann around 9 p.m. Sunday. Upon arrival, they found out Simpson had six active warrants from Warren County as well as a statewide extradition misdemeanor warrant from Franklin County. According to court documents, “Simpson started backing away from the officers, as they approached to make the arrest. Simpson turned away from the officers, and with his right hand pulled a pistol from is right side. Simpson immediately pointed the weapon at the officers, and began shooting.” Detective Sgt. Mason Griffith, 34, died from his injuries at a Hermann hospital just before 11 p.m. Sunday.
Person Dies 80 Feet in the Air After Suffering Heart Attack
Wilmington, De — A person was pronounced dead after suffering a heart attack approximately 80 feet in the air Saturday morning in Wilmington, Delaware. At 9:54 a.m. on March 11, Wilmington Fire units were called to 70 Gist Road at the Port of Wilmington for a patient that needed CPR, fire officials said. Responding units were notified that the person was in cardiac arrest and was located on a mobile container crane approximately 80 feet in the air. First responder crews used high angle rescue harnesses to ascend the crane and relieved bystanders who had been performing CPR on the patient, according to officials. First responders proceeded to perform CPR for over an hour in a space that was less than three feet wide before the patient was pronounced dead, according to fire officials.