How workers died last week: Coal mining, Hurricane Helena, forklifts, falls, logging, vehicle incidents, stabbings 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.
West Virginia coal miner dies on the job; leaves behind wife, 3 kids
TAYLOR COUNTY, W.Va. — A West Virginia coal miner died on the job on Friday, according to Gov. Jim Justice. The miner has been identified as Colton Walls, 34, of Bruceton Mills, NBC affiliate WSAZ reports. He leaves behind a wife and three children. Walls worked as a longwall electrician at the Arch Coal, Leer Mining Complex in Taylor County, which is less than two hours from Pittsburgh. It was the fifth reported coal fatality of the year in West Virginia and the 10th nationally, according to MSHA. There were nine such U.S. deaths last year.
Helene floodwaters trapped Tennessee plastics plant employees, leaving some dead and others missing
Erwin, TN — Floodwaters from Hurricane Helene trapped workers at an eastern Tennessee plastics factory, with several family members learning Monday that their loved ones didn’t survive. Some of the workers’ relatives got frantic video phone calls as the flood swelled around Impact Plastics in Erwin, where rushing waters swept some workers away from the parking lot next to the Nolichucky River. The families and friends had been posting desperate pleas on social media for help in finding their relatives. Some showed up at a news conference carrying photos of the missing and pressed authorities to locate them. Slowly, their postings were updated to say that their loved ones, several of them Latino, had died. According to reports on social media, the workers were trapped outside the building, which was surrounded by fast-moving flood waters that kept them from leaving. Alexa Peterson, of Erwin, confirmed to NBC News that her father, Johnny Peterson, was among the dead. Others confirmed dead include Rosa Andrade, Liliana Verdugo, Monica Hernández and Bertha Mendoza Based on social media, he appears to have been one of the workers. Peterson was seeking legal representation and declined to comment further. In interviews with NBC affiliate WCYB of Bristol, family members said their loved ones had told them they weren’t advised what to do.
CF Industries employee at Donaldsonville facility dead after being hit by forklift
DONALDSONVILLE, LA — A CF Industries employee at the company’s Donaldsonville Complex died Wednesday after being hit by a forklift, officials said. Around 1:45 p.m., the employee was injured. According to a company spokesperson, onsite medical personnel quickly responded. The employee was then airlifted to Our Lady of the Lake Medical Center to be treated as a trauma patient, Acadian Ambulance Service said. The company’s spokesperson put out a statement confirming that the employee died Wednesday night. No other information about the employee is available at this time.
Death of lumber mill worker under investigation
SPRINGFIELD, N.H. — Safety officials are investigating the circumstances involving a 51-year-old man who was found deceased after he had been pinned under a dump bed in the early morning hours last Friday at a lumber mill in Springfield. The man, whose identity has not been released, was an employee of Durgin and Crowell Lumber Co. Emergency responders were dispatched to the business at 3:14 a.m. on Friday for a report of a “CPR in progress” at the mill’s facility on Fisher Corner Road, according to a news release from Springfield Fire and Rescue. “The patient was evaluated and lifesaving efforts were ceased after it was determined that (the man) expired several hours before he was found” and was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene, the news release said.
36-year-old man killed after falling 60-70 feet in industrial accident
Jefferson County, TX — A construction contract worker has died in a Thursday morning industrial accident after falling 60-70 feet at a Jefferson County plant, according to information Precinct 4 Justice of the Peace Justin Chesson provided to KFDM/Fox 4 News. Capt. Crystal Holmes with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office identifies the victim as 36-year-old Cameron Powell of Vidor. Deputies and other first responders rushed to the Beaumont Clean Ammonia plant inside the old Beaumont Works terminal off Twin City Highway, just outside the Beaumont city limits. It was reported as a traumatic injury after a man had fallen in a tank.
Police investigating death of Colchester postal worker after crash
COLCHESTER, Vt. – Police in Colchester are investigating the death of a postal worker found in his crashed mail truck. At about noon on Sunday, officers responded to a crash on Shore Acres Drive. They found a U.S. Postal Service van off the road in the woods. The driver, Douglas Loso, 56, of Colchester, was unresponsive and police gave him CPR. He died at the hospital. Police believe Loso died of a medical event.
Richland County Highway Department worker struck, killed by car in Franklin Township
CLEVELAND, OH — A 20-year-old Richland County Highway Department employee died after he was hit by a car while doing maintenance work in Franklin Township on Wednesday, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said. Trenton Gallaway was standing outside of a highway department vehicle as workers performed road work along Bowman Street Road between Myers Road and Amoy West Road Wednesday afternoon, the highway patrol said in a release. Just before 2:30 p.m., the Lucas resident was struck by a Nissan Rogue. According to troopers, the driver of the Nissan, a 43-year-old Shelby woman, was attempting to pass the workers on the left. Gallaway was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. The OSHP’s Mansfield post is investigating the incident.
North Texas sheriff’s deputy killed in car accident on way to Wise County crash scene
Wise County, TX — A North Texas sheriff’s deputy was killed in an accident the night of Oct. 2 while he was responding to a vehicle crash in Wise County, officials said. Deputy Lex Allen Love was en route to the scene of the accident on County Road 4421 when his cruiser struck a concrete barrier in a construction zone. Love was unresponsive when other deputies who were nearby reached him, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post. Love was transported to Medical City Decatur hospital, but died from his injuries later Wednesday night.
DeKalb County Sheriff’s Deputy killed in traffic crash identified
DeKalb County, IL — DeKalb County Sheriff’s deputy was killed in a traffic crash Thursday night when her parked vehicle was rear-ended by a truck, officials said. The deputy was identified as 35-year-old Christina Musil, a five-year veteran of the department who served in the Corrections and Patrol divisions. Musil was also a military veteran, who served in the U.S. Army National Guard as a military police officer for four years, while also serving in Afghanistan from 2008 to 2009. According to authorities, Illinois State Police responded just before 10:40 p.m. Thursday evening to the intersection of Illinois Route 23 and Perry Road in rural DeKalb County for reports of a traffic crash involving a vehicle with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. Officials said Musil was sitting inside her vehicle, parked on the right shoulder of southbound Illinois Route 23, when a single-unit Kenworth truck ran off the roadway for unknown reasons and struck the vehicle from behind. The deputy was rushed to an area hospital with life-threatening injuries where she was later pronounced dead.
Body found in semi-truck off I-80 identified
DELLE, Utah (ABC4) — The Dept. of Public Safety has identified the body found off of I-80 in Delle on Thursday, Sept. 26. The deceased man has been identified as Jaspinder Singh, of California — age unknown. At around 10:15 a.m. on Sept. 26, Utah Highway Patrol troopers responded to a report of a deceased man inside a semi-truck at the Delle on-ramp on I-80, milepost 70. Upon arrival, troopers found a deceased man in the sleeper cab of the semi. According to a DPS press release, a co-worker had noticed that the man’s GPS was not moving and decided to check on him, finding him deceased. “The death is suspicious in nature and we suspect foul play,” a press release from DPS states. “The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) will be conducting the investigation, and the county attorney has been notified.”
Man Dies In Fannin County Industrial Accident
Grand Prairie, TX — One man is dead after an industrial accident in Fannin County. Fannin County Sheriff’s Lt. Frank Deater said Rafel Navarro, 45, of Grand Prairie, was using a forklift to move materials onto a truck when the forklift veered out of control. The forklift flipped and trapped Navarro underneath, and he died at the scene.
Construction worker hit, killed by truck on Acadia Highway in Orland
ORLAND, ME — The Hancock County Sheriff’s Office says a construction worker died from his injuries Tuesday after being hit by a truck traveling through a construction zone in Orland. Police say a truck, driven by a 70-year-old man from Bucksport, was traveling east on the Acadia Highway around 6:57 a.m. when it approached a construction zone for paving. Twenty-four-year-old Charles Resh of Searsport was guiding eastbound traffic into the westbound lane because the eastbound lane was closed for paving. Police say the truck struck Resh in the eastbound lane.
Man dies after being impaled by a log in truck crash
COLUMBUS COUNTY, N.C. – A man was impaled by a log during a traffic accident in North Carolina on Wednesday. The crash happened on NC 87 near the International Paper papermill. According to the Acme-Delco-Riegelwood Fire Department, a log truck turning to enter the papermill was hit in the rear by a box truck from Fayetteville. A log 3 inches in diameter then impaled the driver of the truck, going into their left stomach area. Extrication crews had to cut the log off with a chainsaw, cut the roof off, and peel it down allowing the pit to be removed. The driver was taken to the hospital. At 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 3, officials say the man died at Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center. N.C. State Highway Patrol identified the victim as Vashawn Williams Jr. of Fayetteville. He was 23 years old.
Cameron County deputy killed after patrol car hit by distracted driver
BROWNSVILLE, Texas – A Cameron County deputy was killed Monday evening along a highway outside of Brownsville. The deadly two-vehicle accident happened just after 6:30 p.m. along State Highway 48 near Marina Way Road. The Texas Department of Public Safety said in a statement that Cameron County Precinct 1 Deputy Constable Ruben Garcia was parked along the highway, assisting DPS with another crash scene, according to NBC 23. At some point, a white Chevrolet Silverado crashed into the back of Deputy Garcia’s patrol car. Deputy Garcia was rushed to the hospital in critical condition, but later succumbed to his injuries.
Security guard shot to death during robbery attempt at East LA marijuana dispensary
EAST LOS ANGELES, CA — A security guard was shot and killed during a robbery attempt at a 24-hour marijuana dispensary in East Los Angeles, and a search was underway for the suspects Monday. The incident happened just before 2 a.m. on Whittier Boulevard, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. That’s when two men entered and tried to rob the store. At some point, a shooting occurred and the security guard was struck by gunfire, investigators said. When deputies arrived, they found the unidentified victim had been shot in the chest. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Iowa man killed in apparent logging accident
MADISON COUNTY, Iowa (KCCI) – The Madison County Sheriff’s Office is conducting a death investigation after a 74-year-old man was found dead after an apparent logging accident on Tuesday. According to the sheriff’s office, deputies received a report around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday that an unresponsive man had been found in the 3100 block of Terrace Lane in rural Madison County, between East Peru and Truro. When first responders arrived, they located 74-year-old Leon Nazworthy, of Saint Charles. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff’s office says the preliminary investigation indicates there was a logging accident when Nazworthy was clearing some timber by himself. An investigation into the exact cause of death is ongoing.
Trucker dies in incident at Coca-Cola bottling facility in Eagan
Eagan, MN — A 69-year-old truck driver died at an Eagan Coca-Cola bottling facility following a workplace incident on Monday. According to Eagan Police Department, officers responded to a medical call at the Coca-Cola facility at 2750 Eagandale Boulevard just before noon. Authorities identified 69-year-old Jesse Murdock, a truck driver for Taylor Trucking since 2021. He was working alone on a semi-trailer when an accident occurred, causing a fatal injury.
Truck driver killed in collision with tractor in Jackson County
Jackson County, IA — A 35-year-old semi-truck driver died at the scene after a collision with a tractor on Thursday night in Jackson County, according to an Iowa State Patrol crash report. The crash happened about 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of 196th Avenue and southbound Highway 61. Iowa State Police say the semi, which was in the outside lane, hit the tractor near the shoulder. The truck went into a ditch. Two other people suffered injuries. One went to Maquoketa for treatment and the other was airlifted to Iowa City, the report says.
Security guard killed in shooting at adult arcade in Jacksonville’s Paxon neighborhood
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A security guard is dead after he was shot at an adult arcade in a strip mall at Edgewood Avenue North. Police said that two masked and armed suspects entered the business and started shooting at the security guard.
Texas DPS trooper with Houston-area ties dies in crash a year into his career, agency says
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper with Houston area ties died in a crash while investigating another wreck, the agency announced. According to DPS, a vehicle hit Trooper Kevin Alexis Ramirez Vazquez on State Highway 302 in Ector County in west Texas on Sept. 17. First responders rushed the 25-year-old to an Odessa hospital before a medical helicopter flew him to a Lubbock-area facility. He died from his injuries on Sept. 28, DPS said. “There are no words to ease the loss of one of our brothers in uniform,” DPS Director Steven McCraw said. “Texas Highway Patrol Trooper Kevin Alexis Ramirez Vasquez served this state honorably to his very last breath. His commitment to keeping the roads safe, protecting the people of Texas and the sacrifice he made will never be forgotten.”
Authorities identify 44-year-old truck driver killed in fiery crash near Kennedy Bridge
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The Jefferson County coroner’s office has released the name of a semitruck driver who died in a fiery crash near the Kennedy Bridge last weekend. Ahmed Ibrahim, 44, of Temple Terrace, Florida, died from smoke inhalation and thermal burns after the semitruck he was driving crashed into a guardrail on Interstate 65 South at Jefferson Street near the Kennedy bridge around 5 p.m. on Sept. 28. The cleanup and investigation halted traffic crossing the Kennedy Bridge from southern Indiana into Louisville. The southbound lanes reopened around 9:30 p.m.
‘Didn’t deserve this’: Tow truck driver killed in east Charlotte was father to 2
CHARLOTTE, NC — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said a suspect accused of killing a tow truck driver was arrested in Orange County, Texas. The victim’s family told Channel 9′s Hunter Sáenz that Khyre Grier was just doing his job when he was killed. Grier, 25, was a father to a 5-year-old and a newborn. “He was smart. He loved cars,” said his mother, Tamara Grier. “And the job he has, well, he had — excuse me. He loved it. He loved his towing job.” The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s team who tracks down the most violent criminals in the city were trying to find Ramon Alexi Santos Funes, 34, who they believe helped kill him. CMPD homicide Sgt. Eduardo Quevedo said on Sept. 26, Grier was found shot to death in the driver’s seat of his tow truck at an apartment complex off Eastcrest Drive in east Charlotte.
Bay Area gym worker killed by patron over ‘cleanliness,’
Daly City, CA — A Bay Area man and his mother are in custody after a custodian at a Daly City gym was shot to death last week. According to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office, the man was targeted because he asked the alleged shooter to follow the gym’s locker room rules. Shortly after 7 p.m. on Sept. 29, Daly City police received a report of a shooting on the 1300 block of South Mayfair Ave. When they arrived, they discovered Rolando Viray Yanga, 60, dead from multiple gunshot wounds. San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told KTVU that Yanga had just left the Daly City Fitness 19 gym where he worked and, unbeknownst to him, was being tailed by Maarij Abdullah Afridi. Wagstaffe said Afridi, 21, was known at the gym for “walking around barefoot, not taking care of cleaning things, putting things in the toilet that didn’t belong there.” When Yanga spoke with Afridi about his behavior, Afridi decided to kill him, Wagstaffe said. “The confrontation here was over cleanliness at the gym,” Wagstaffe told KTVU.
Wendy’s employee dead after altercation that started with customer ‘moving furniture’
HONOLULU, Hawaii – Honolulu police opened a homicide investigation after a man, 22, died following a double stabbing in Nanakuli, according to police officials. EMS officials say the incident happened just before 10 a.m. Sunday at the Wendy’s in Nanakuli. EMS officials reported that people were injured due to a double stabbing: a 22-year-old man in critical condition and another, a 44-year-old man in serious condition. HPD confirms the two men were Wendy’s employees. According to EMS, both patients suffered stab wounds to the upper body and were transported to emergency rooms. We’re told the 22-year-old succumbed to his injuries. HPD says it started after an altercation at the restaurant just before 10 a.m. “The suspect a patron at the establishment was moving furniture,” said Lt. Deena Thoemmes. “Victim one, a 22-year-old male employee approached the suspect and asked him to stop moving the furniture. An argument ensued when the suspect called victim one derogatory name.” According to police, the 22-year-old employee was joined by a 44-year old-coworker. who escorted the man out of the restaurant. “The argument continued and reportedly victim one, punched the suspect who in turn stabbed victim one and two,” added Lt. Thoemmes.
Semi-truck driver killed in rollover crash near Reydon, investigation ongoing
ROGERS MILLS COUNTY, OK (KOKH) — A semi-truck driver is dead after a crash near Reydon in Roger Mills County on Saturday around 12:30 p.m. Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) said a Freightliner semi driven by 56-year-oldMichael R. Hatfield of Elk City was going westbound on OK-47 when he left the roadway for an unknown reason. OHP said the driver overcorrected and caused the semi to roll. Hatfield was pinned in the semi before being freed by the Reydon Fire Department. He was pronounced dead at the scene.