How workers died last week: Electrocution, falls, machinery, vehicle incidents, tree care, drowning and shootings. 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.
A railroad worker was crushed to death in Ohio by a remote-controlled train. Unions have concerns
Walbridge, OH — A railroad worker was crushed to death between two railcars over the weekend by a remote-controlled train in a CSX railyard in Ohio, raising concerns among unions about such technology. The death highlights the need for an in-depth review of the use of remote-controlled locomotives, the Transportation Communications Union and Brotherhood of Railway Carmen said in a news release Sunday. Every major railroad has used such locomotives inside, and increasingly outside of, railyards across the country for years. he National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the death, which happened shortly before 4 a.m. Sunday in Walbridge, Ohio. Fred Anderson is the third carman killed in an incident involving a remote-controlled locomotive, the unions said.
Man dies after being struck by truck tractor at construction site
SOUTH FAYETTE, Pa. (KDKA) – A man has died in the hospital after being struck by a truck tractor at a construction site in South Fayette Saturday evening. Allegheny County emergency dispatchers were notified of an accident at Stonegate Drive in South Fayette involving a truck tractor towing a flatbed trailer around 1 p.m. Saturday. First responders found an adult male victim, later identified as Lewis Alling, who was struck by the truck tractor. Alling was loading a flatbed trailer when the truck tractor began to move backward, striking Alling, according to police. The vehicle also hit a backhoe that was parked over a gas line being worked on by Columbia Gas personnel.
Former NFL receiver Mike Williams dies at 36
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Former NFL receiver Mike Williams has died at age 36. Family members said Williams died just before 9 a.m. Tuesday in Tampa, Florida. He was hospitalized earlier this month and put on life support following complications from a workplace accident in August. Williams was able to breathe on his own after being taken off a ventilator Sept. 7, but was said to be unresponsive. Williams’ on-the-job accident last month was not immediately thought to be life-threatening. Rosenthal told WIVB that Williams was doing electrical work when someone above him dropped a steel beam that struck Williams in the head. He thought he had walked away from the incident with just a headache, but his symptoms worsened that week. Rosenthal said Williams was initially turned away from the hospital because they thought he only had a concussion, but was admitted days later when he began to lose feeling in his legs. He also developed a staph infection that contributed to his situation, Rosenthal said, adding that he underwent a surgery on his spinal cord while in the hospital.
Construction worker who died after accident on job site identified
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – A construction worker who died after an accident at a job site has been identified, according to the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO). SCSO said that 64-year-old Lino Alonzo of Cordova was injured during an accident at a construction site in the 7600 block of Chasewood Drive in southeast Shelby County around 7:45 a.m. Monday morning. Alonzo was rushed to Regional One Health in critical condition but died at the hospital, the sheriff’s office said. Authorities initially called Alonzo’s death an accident but said that they are continuing to investigate.
Construction worker falls from roof, dies in Robinson Township
ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A construction worker died after falling from a roof in Robinson Township on Monday. According to Allegheny County police, the man fell from a roof that he was working on in the 200 block of Clever Road at 12:35 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Monday night, the Allegheny County Medical Examiner identified the victim as Rudy Davila, 27, of Burgettstown.
Los Angeles sheriff’s deputy dies after being shot in patrol vehicle, office says
Palmdale, CA — A deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department has died after being shot while sitting in a patrol vehicle in Palmdale on Saturday, his office said. “At approximately 6 p.m. an LASD Palmdale Deputy was found in medical distress in front of Palmdale Sheriff Station,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement on social media. Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer was 30 years old. Clinkunbroomer, who was in uniform, was working in a patrol car from the Palmdale sheriff’s station when he was discovered unconscious in his vehicle by a good Samaritan, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said at a media briefing Sunday.
Auburn man dies in paving accident in Oxford
OXFORD, ME — An Auburn man working on a paving crew died Friday in a workplace accident on Route 26. Mark Francis, 48, of Auburn was working on a paving project on Main Street, or Route 26, for DMR Sealcoating and Paving of Lewiston, when he was accidentally struck by a co-worker in front of NAPA Auto Parts at 1322 Main St., Oxford police Chief Rickie Jack said. The accident happened Friday about 11:40 a.m. and Francis died at the scene. The incident is being investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, who was on the scene Friday afternoon, Jack said.
Tree that killed Richmond worker was ‘prime candidate’ for removal, expert says
RICHMOND, Va. — Flowers now memorialize the spot where a Richmond City employee lost his life, as crime scene tape surrounds an area with toppled trees and broken branches. Officials said a staff member with the Department of Public Works died on Thursday due to a fallen tree as the employee was working storm clean up at Libby Hill Park. As to how the accident happened, much is still unknown.
Ill. man killed in industrial accident by falling slabs of granite
SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. — A 25-year Oak Forest man died in an industrial accident Monday morning in South Holland after a load of granite slabs shifted and landed on him as he was helping unload the stone, according to authorities. Alexander Kush, of the 14700 block of El Vista Avenue, suffered “multiple crush injuries” as a result of a “collapse of stone slabs” according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. South Holland firefighters and paramedics were called at about 10:30 a.m. Monday to Sambor Stone Co., 15527 S. LaSalle St., for a fatal industrial accident, according to a statement from the village. Kush and other employees were unloading slabs of granite from a container trailer when the load shifted and landed on him, according to the village.
Contractor, a dad of two, is killed by bursting water pipe cap
Pleasant Prairie, WI — A Wisconsin contractor was fatally struck by a water main cap while working at a road construction site in Pleasant Prairie, officials say. He was also a husband and father of two. The man, later identified as 34-year-old Cody Nelson, “suffered serious injuries” and died at the scene, police said. Investigators with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration also arrived at the scene, and the agency is leading an investigation into the incident, according to police. Nelson was working on a water main at the construction site when he was fatally struck, according to a Department of Labor news release. “The new section of watermain was capped about 8 weeks ago after installation of about 1000 feet of new pipe that was an extension of an existing pipe,” the release said. “When the worker went to remove the cap to continue work on the pipe, the pressure from the water blew the cap off and struck the worker.”
Kershaw County Coroner identifies Lineman killed on the job
COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)–The Kershaw County Coroner has identified a lineman killed while on the job. According to Coroner David West, 34 year old Timothy John Gardner of Sumter, was pronounced dead at MUSC Kershaw Health shortly after being electrocuted while working at a job site on Cantey Hill Road in Camden. According to the company’s Facebook post, Black River CEO Charlie Allen said the lineman was working with a crew on Cantey Hill Road in Cassatt when he made contact with a piece of equipment that had become energized. Efforts were made to resuscitate him until paramedics arrived.
Police officer killed in Algona shooting Wednesday night
ALGONA, Iowa — An Algona police officer was shot and killed Wednesday night, authorities confirmed Thursday morning. Officer Kevin Cram was the man shot and killed while trying to serve an arrest warrant Wednesday night around 8 p.m. He was taken to the hospital where he later died. Kyle Ricke, 43 of Algona, was arrested early Thursday morning in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, after fleeing from the initial scene. Ricke was in Kossuth County Wednesday for a charge of third-degree harassment. He was accused of repeatedly calling and texting a woman that no longer wanted contact with him.
Employee found dead at southern Indiana rock quarry
CRAWFORD CO., Ind. (WFIE) – The body of an employee was found in one of the water-filled pits at a southern Indiana rock quarry. Indiana Conservation officers say this happened at the Mulzer Crushed Stone Quarry in Crawford County yesterday afternoon. That’s just east of Perry County. DNR officials say the employee was driving a dump truck weighing several tons when it slipped into a pit and dropped several hundred feet into the water. Just before noon today, officials say they recovered that body with a remote operated vehicle in that quarry. The victim’s name has not been released.
Police identify worker who was electrocuted in northwest Miami-Dade by falling wire
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – Police have identified a man who was electrocuted Thursday morning in northwest Miami-Dade. According to Miami-Dade police, the incident happened just before 5:45 a.m. at Adonel Concrete, located at 830 NW 73rd St. According to authorities, officers and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel arrived at the business to find 63-year-old Jorge Moreno unresponsive on the ground. Police say they discovered Moreno and another employee were reporting to work when a transformer blew, causing an electrical wire to fall and strike Moreno. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Tow Truck Driver Killed in Rollover Accident on Caliente Bodfish Road [Bakersfield, CA]
BAKERSFIELD, CA — A tow truck driver died in a rollover accident on Caliente Bodfish Road near Caliente Creek. According to the California Highway Patrol, the fatal truck accident happened around 2:30 p.m. Monday. For an unknown reason, a 68-year-old man operating a 2010 Kenworth flatbed truck with a Mazda on top of the flatbed was driving at an unsafe speed. The driver reportedly failed to negotiate the roadway, causing him to lose control of the Kenworth. Subsequently, the truck overturned and came to a rest on its roof, ejecting the Mazda from the flatbed. Soon after, paramedics and police officers arrived and found the Kenwood driver pinned in the driver’s seat. The driver suffered fatal injuries in the crash.
Man dies in Lexington Road vehicle crash
Athens, GA — A 27-year-old Oakwood, Georgia, man died in a single-vehicle crash on Lexington Road near the intersection of Oak Drive on Tuesday at approximately 4:30 p.m., according to an Athens-Clarke County Police Department press release. This is the 13th fatal crash in Athens-Clarke County this year, according to the release. The 12th fatal crash happened less than one week prior on Sept. 6, 2023. The man was driving west in a wood chipper truck with a trailer attached. The vehicle was on the inside lane when it veered left, struck a curb and sideswiped landscaping on the center median where it came to rest, the release said. The driver was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Arkansas truck driver killed in fiery crash on I-459 near Vestavia Hills when tire hits windshield
Vestavia Hills, AL — An Arkansas truck driver was killed in a fiery crash on Interstate 459 near Vestavia Hills on Monday afternoon. Alabama State Troopers identified the fatality victim as Jeffrey E. Cane. He was 42 and lived in North Little Rock. The crash happened at 3:40 p.m. on Interstate 459 at Liberty Parkway. Authorities said Cane was driving a Freightliner tractor-trailer northbound on I-459, said Senior Trooper Justin O’Neal. A tire fell off a southbound Ford Explorer driven by 21-year-old Anthony Hayes of Midfield, and that tire crashed through the windshield of the tractor-trailer. The impact caused Freightliner to leave the interstate and catch fire. Cane was pronounced dead on the scene at 3:49 p.m.
One Killed in Logging Truck Accident on N.C. 87 in Riegelwood, NC
Riegelwood, NC — September 12, 2023, one person was killed in a collision with a logging truck around 6:40 a.m. on N.C. 87 in Riegelwood. According to authorities, a passenger vehicle and a semi-truck carrying logs were traveling in the same direction on the highway when the car allegedly rear-ended the trailer. The car’s driver was reportedly pronounced deceased at the accident scene. Officials may be withholding the victim’s name until their next of kin is notified. Reports indicate authorities have not determined the cause of the crash.