Last week, workers were electrocuted, shot, and killed in explosions, falls, logging and vehicle incidents 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.
Fatal Workplace Accident Takes One Life on Willow Rd
Hillsborough, NJ – Police continue to investigate a fatal workplace accident that ended the life of a man from Ocean County, age 62. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning, May 31. At approximately 7:30 a.m, police went to the scene on Willow Road after receiving reports concerning an accident involving heavy machinery. Authorities found the man deceased on-site. The severity of his injuries prevented any life-saving measures from being made. The victim’s identity has not been reported at this time. Authorities in Hillsborough continue to investigate. OSHA confirmed to New Jersey 101.5 that the companies involved were Mercer General Works and JA Neary Excavating — a contractor that has a history of violations.
Police name the victim, call Wichita bulldozer death an accident
Wichita, KS — A 52-year-old man died when the construction bulldozer he was in slipped into a man-made pond. Police have identified the man who died as 52-year-old Mike Unruh of Wichita. The incident was reported around 10:54 a.m. Tuesday as a submersion call at a housing development southwest of the intersection of 53rd Street and Meridian in north Wichita, Wichita Fire Battalion Chief Jose Ocadiz said during a media briefing at the scene. Several people at a house near the lake saw a bulldozer “going back and forth,” Wichita Police Capt. Ronald Hunt said.“They were staying at a property just north of where this incident occurred,” Hunt said. “They were out back… and at one point it rolled back and went in the water.” Those people called 911 and drove around to see if they could find the bulldozer and the man inside it, Hunt added. Wichita fire divers were able to get the man out of the bulldozer, which was upside down in the water. Unruh owns an excavating business, according to Wichita police spokesperson Juan Rebolledo, who said Wednesday that police are labeling the death as an occupational accident.
Worker dies following fall into holding tank at sewage treatment plant
Ephrata, PA — A contractor working on upgrades to Ephrata’s sewage treatment plant died two days after suffering injuries when he fell into an empty concrete holding tank on the property. Roy Bautista, 35, of Mission, Texas, died Saturday of multiple traumatic injuries, the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office said. Bautista was rushed from the plant at 405 S. Reading Road to Lancaster General Hospital last Thursday with unspecified injuries after a rescue effort that took more than an hour to complete. The accident occurred at 2:24 p.m., according to Ephrata police. First responders to the scene found that the contractor, part of a crew working to replace roof panels on the clarifier tank at the plant, had fallen from the roof structure into the tank, which is about 20 feet deep.
Truck Driver Killed In Irving Rollover Crash On Bush Turnpike
Iriving, TX — On Thursday, June 1, at 4:14 am, multiple agencies responded to a single vehicle crash involving a commercial truck on southbound President George Bush Turnpike (PGBT) near Gateway Drive in Irving. DPS troopers say the driver of a commercial truck was traveling southbound on the toll lanes when it veered off the road, struck a guardrail, and overturned. The driver of the truck was pronounced deceased at the scene. He has been identified as a 57-year-old man from Dallas.
Daija McKithen, 18, Killed in Crash with Dump Truck near Brunswick Pike & Franklin Corner Rd
Lawrenceville, NJ – A woman from Lawrenceville lost her life on Thursday, June 1, in a traffic collision involving a dump truck and a sedan, according to information provided by Lawrence Police. The woman was identified as 18-year-old Daija McKithen, who succumbed to her injuries at the crash scene. At approximately 12:17 p.m., Thursday, authorities in Lawrenceville responded to the scene at Brunswick Pike (Route 1) and Franklin Corner Road concerning reports of a traffic crash involving a sedan and a dump truck. The dump truck’s driver, identified as Suleyman Durdu, a 28-year-old Bordentown resident, sustained moderate injuries, police said. How the incident occurred is under local law enforcement investigation at this time.
Longtime logging employee killed by falling tree in Randolph County
RANDOLPH COUNTY, W.Va. — A logging company worker was killed by a falling tree Thursday in Randolph County, deputies said. David Moreland, 54, of Schere, W.Va., was killed after a tree uprooted and fell on him as he was preparing a felled log, according to a news release from the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office. The incident was reported just after 2 p.m. Thursday about a mile off a rural logging road near Monterville, W.Va., the sheriff’s office said. Moreland was pronounced dead at the scene.
West Virginia state trooper shot and killed, suspect in custody: Authorities
Matewan, WV — A 29-year-old man accused of fatally shooting a West Virginia state trooper is in police custody, according to the ATF’s Louisville Office. Law enforcement responded to a shooting complaint in Mingo County, West Virginia, on Friday where they encountered Timothy Kennedy who began shooting at police. Troopers said they were met with gunfire when they responded to a shooting complaint near Matewan. A trooper was fatally shot in the ensuing gunfire. “I am absolutely heartbroken tonight to report that Sergeant Cory Maynard of the West Virginia State Police was fatally wounded in an incident this afternoon near Matewan,” West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said.
2 men killed, possibly electrocuted in tree cutting accident in West Jordan
WEST JORDAN, Utah — Two workers were killed Friday afternoon in West Jordan when they came in contact with electrical wires while cutting a tree. West Jordan Police said they received the call reporting the accident around 1:40 p.m. from a neighbor in the area of 1300 West and 7200 South. The two men, who worked for a wood-cutting service, were using a boom lift that officials said possibly touched electrical wiring. This caused the lift to catch fire. Firefighters responded and put out the flames, and police officers also responded and found the two men dead at the scene. Their names have not been released yet.
Firefighter Dies in South Carolina Apartment Blaze
Columbia, SC — One firefighter died and six others were injured fighting a blaze in Columbia, South Carolina, on Friday, authorities say. Crews from the Irmo and Columbia-Richland fire departments responded to a fire at an apartment complex around 4:15 p.m., according to a Facebook post from the Columbia-Richland Fire Department. Crews were inside a building when it collapsed. The firefighter who died, James Michael Muller, 25, was a seven-year veteran of the Irmo Fire District, said a statement from the fire district.
Gas Station Employee Dies Months After Jersey City Assault, Suspect Charged
Jersey City, NJ — In August 2022, Jersey City Police responded to a report of an assault at the Shell gas station at Marin Boulevard and 14th Street and found Fardin Ghadamidarounkola, a 55-year-old Jersey City resident, suffering from a serious head injury, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said. He was transported to Jersey City Medical Center for treatment, Suarez said. On Monday May 15, prosecutors were notified Ghadamidarounkola passed away at a Washington D.C. hospital two days earlier. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined his death to be a homicide caused by complications due to blunt force trauma. Nixon Marquez had previously been charged with assault and weapons offenses before the report from the medical examiner.
1 person dead in power plant explosion in Texas
FRANKLIN, Texas – One person died Wednesday in a power plant boiler explosion on Wednesday morning, authorities said. The incident occurred at 8 a.m. during the commissioning of a new auxiliary boiler, leading to the on-site team immediately calling 911 and implementing emergency response protocols. Robertson County first responders went to the Oak Grove Power Plant in Franklin after initial reports of an explosion with multiple injuries, according to the Robertson County Emergency Management. Upon arrival, crews found that there was an explosion from a boiler, and there was one person seriously injured who succumbed to their injuries.
Tow truck driver hit and killed as he was helping motorist stuck on 5 Fwy near Glendale, CHP says
GLENDALE, Calif. — A tow truck driver was hit and killed by a passing vehicle late Wednesday as he was helping a stranded motorist on the 5 Freeway near Glendale, authorities said. According to the California Highway Patrol, Presiliano Chavez, 41, of Sun Valley, was stopped on the southbound side of the 5 Freeway, helping a stranded driver. As he was attempting to load up the vehicle onto his tow truck, he was struck by a Nissan Versa that was passing by.
Authorities ID Security Guard Killed At Illegal Gambling Establishment
Los Angeles, CA — Authorities Thursday identified a security guard who was fatally shot at an illegal gambling establishment on Cahuenga Pass during an attempted robbery, and detectives continued their efforts to find the suspects. The shooting occurred about 3:40 a.m. Wednesday in the 3300 block of Cahuenga Boulevard, near Oakshire Drive, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Anthony Rivas of North Hollywood died at the scene, the Los Angeles County coroner’s office reported. According to police, two armed male suspects wearing ski masks entered the rear of the building with the intention to commit a robbery. The security guard began observing the two suspects and removed a pistol from his waistband. One suspect pointed a rifle at the security guard and fired multiple times, striking and fatally injuring the guard, and the suspects fled the scene emptyhanded after searching the establishment for money, police said.
1 officer killed, another injured in Brandon standoff
BRANDON, Miss. — A veteran law enforcement officer with the Madison Police Department was killed Thursday while responding to a standoff in a Brandon neighborhood. Randy Tyler was “fatally wounded by the suspect,” who also died, according to the Madison Police Department. Brandon police Chief Wayne Dearman said the incident began about 1:45 a.m. Thursday when police received a call about a domestic incident at a home on Terrapin Hill North. There were two women inside the house, who told officers the suspect was wearing a bulletproof vest and was armed with a rifle and a handgun. One of the women was able to escape. When they arrived on-scene, the subject fired shots at officers,” Bailey Martin, a spokesperson with the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, said. Dearman said the officer was shot in the side. At about 9:30 a.m., several shots were fired at the scene. About an hour later, Martin confirmed that an officer, along with the suspect, were killed.
Box Truck Driver Killed in Fiery Rollover Crash on I-75 in Broward
Broward County, FL — Authorities are investigating a fiery rollover crash on Interstate 75 in Broward that killed the driver of a box truck Tuesday. Authorities are investigating a fiery rollover crash on Interstate 75 in Broward that killed the driver of a box truck Tuesday. The crash happened around noon on northbound I-75 west of U.S. 27. Florida Highway Patrol officials said the box truck was rear-ended by a yellow Chevy Corvette, which pushed the truck into the center median where it flipped and became fully engulfed in flames. The driver of the truck became trapped inside as witnesses tried to help him out, officials said. But the fire was too big and the witnesses were unable to get to the driver, who was killed at the scene, officials said. His identity wasn’t released.
Man dies in farm accident south of Norfolk
Norfolk, NE — A man died on Tuesday while attempting to repair a tractor tire. At 10:47 a.m., Madison County sheriff’s deputies and Madison Fire and Rescue were dispatched to a farm accident at 83386 556 Ave. northeast of Madison, the sheriff’s office said in a press release. Witnesses reported that a man was repairing a large tractor tire when the tire and rim exploded. The explosion caused serious blunt force injury to the man repairing it. Deputies immediately began lifesaving measures upon their arrival at the scene, according to the release. Madison Fire and Rescue assisted with advanced life support. The man was identified as Miguel Cardenas Pena, 38. The sheriff’s office said next of kin had been notified.
Family Dollar worker killed during armed robbery in Goldsboro; 2 suspects captured, police say
GOLDSBORO, N.C. (WNCN) — A Family Dollar worker was shot and killed during an armed robbery Sunday afternoon in Goldsboro, police said. The incident was reported around 3:15 p.m. at the Family Dollar at 1403 Wayne Memorial Drive, according to a news release from the Goldsboro Police Department. “Responding officers were advised that two men came into the business and shot the victim during the robbery,” the news release said. The victim, identified as Alexander Thomas, 46, was found by officers behind the cash register suffering from a single gunshot wound to the chest, police said. Thomas was taken to UNC Health Wayne, where he died.