How workers died last week. Carbon monoxide, train collision, falls, logging, suffocation, coal mine, construction equipment, vehicle incidents, stabbing 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.
Truck driver killed in collision with railroad overpass near Willmar
Willmar, MN — The driver killed when his dump truck collided with a railroad overpass near Willmar on Tuesday morning has been identified as 67-year-old Terry A. Vreeman, of Spicer. The Minnesota State Patrol said the crash happened at 7:15 a.m. on northbound Hwy. 71, just north of Hwy. 12. Vreeman, driving a 2018 Peterbuilt Straight Truck, was not wearing a seat belt when the truck collided with the overpass, according the patrol.
OSHA investigating death at Tyson plant in Dakota City
DAKOTA CITY, Neb. (KTIV) – Federal authorities have confirmed to KTIV that a death occurred at a Tyson Foods plant in Northeast Nebraska. A U.S. Department of Labor spokesperson says the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, better known as OSHA, is investigating a “workplace fatality” at Tyson Foods in Dakota City. According to the spokesperson, the incident happened on Monday, Jan. 6 in the warehouse material handling area of Tyson Foods. No further details will be released from OSHA until their investigation is done. By law, OSHA has six months to complete the investigation.
Father of 6 who coached Dunnellon youth football dies in workplace accident
Ocala, FL — A local father who coached Dunnellon Pop Warner football was tragically killed from injuries he sustained during a workplace accident last week, just 25 days after his 16-year-old daughter lost her battle with brain cancer. Family and friends are mourning the loss of Charles “Chuck” Thomas, who passed away over the weekend from injuries he suffered during a workplace accident. Thomas was in the Intensive Care Unit leading up to his death.
Questions, concerns after Jackson County public works employee killed
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV/Gray News) – A roadway worker was struck and killed by a dump truck while he was working to clear snow from a highway near Kansas City. Everett Carter, a 61-year-old Jackson County employee, was hit by the dump truck around 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Missouri State Highway Patrol said the crash happened in the unincorporated area of Blue Summit.
Officials said Carter was riding in the dump truck when the driver stopped to let him out of the truck on the roadway. As soon as Carter exited the truck, the vehicle started sliding on ice. It hit Carter and a Honda CRV that was parked on the side of the road. Carter died at the scene and was taken to the Jackson County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Worker dies, another critical from possible carbon monoxide incident
ALMONT, Mich. (WJRT) – An Oakland County contractor died from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning while working in a pole barn in Almont Township on Jan. 3. Around 9:15 p.m. last Friday night, Almont Police Dept. officers were called to a residence on the 7100 block of Hough Road, where two workers had been grinding and polishing concrete in a detached barn behind the residence. According to police, the homeowner went to check on the workers around 8:30 p.m. and found them both unresponsive on the floor inside the barn. Both workers, a 43-year-old Troy man and a 50-year-old man from Mt. Clemens, were transported to McLaren Lapeer Region. Police said the 43-year- old died, while the other worker remains hospitalized in critical condition. An autopsy was conducted on the worker from Troy by the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office, which determined that the cause of the death was CO poisoning. Both contractors worked for Eco-Polish, a floor polishing company based in Shelby Township. Their names have not been released. According to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA), which is investigating the case, the workers were using propane-powered equipment inside the barn with no ventilation.
Man found dead in Syracuse Academy of Science after carbon monoxide found
Syracuse, N.Y. — A man was found dead Tuesday morning in the cafeteria of the Academy of Science in Syracuse where there were high levels of carbon monoxide, according to the Syracuse Fire Department. The fire department responded to a call at 7:54 a.m. for a person in cardiac arrest at the school, according to Captain Phillip Vogt, a spokesperson for the Syracuse Fire Department. The charter school is at 1001 Park Ave. Twelve adults were evaluated and five were transported to hospitals with symptoms consistent with mild to moderate exposure to carbon monoxide, he said. Most were working in the kitchen area, where the levels of carbon monoxide were found to be the highest.
Construction worker dead after falling off roof
DEFOREST, Wis. — A construction worker died after falling off roof of a work site Thursday afternoon. DeForest Village President Jane Wolfgram confirmed to News 3 Now. This is the site of the upcoming Kwik Trip Distribution Center in the 6000 block of Pepsi Way. Police said they located the man pulseless and not breathing. He was later pronounced dead at the scene. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was contacted regarding the incident.
Windber man killed in Somerset County mine accident
Somerset County, PA — A Windber man died Friday in a mining accident in Somerset County, authorities said Saturday. Josh Mock, 34, died from multiple blunt impacts and crushing injuries, Somerset County Coroner Cullen Swank said. Somerset Area Ambulance and the Acosta Volunteer Fire Department were initially dispatched to a reported accident at a Corsa Coal Corp. mine site in Jenner Township, Somerset County 911 said. State police in Somerset were dispatched at 2 p.m. for a death investigation. “Though the investigation, it was determined the victim suffered fatal injuries while operating a piece of underground mine equipment,” a state police news release. State police are continuing the investigation.
Man dies inside bottom of railroad tanker car in Twinsburg Township
Cleveland, OH — A 35-year-old man from Cleveland died inside the bottom of a railroad tanker car at Emerald Transformer in Twinsburg Township Friday morning, according to the Twinsburg Fire Department and Summit County Sheriff Kandy Fatheree. At approximately 9:40 a.m., the fire department responded to a business in the 1600 block of Highland Road for a report of someone who “fell into a tank,” the department said. Fatheree said the man entered a tank to conduct an air quality test while two other men waited outside. The two men noticed the 35-year-old was unresponsive and began to assist him. Firefighters determined the person in question was lying unresponsive inside the railroad tanker car, according to the department. Authorities said the man was a contractor hired to clean and test rail tanker cars. After the fire department spoke with company representatives and monitored the surrounding areas, the department said it was determined that the employee entered the railcar with an oxygen-deficient atmosphere and succumbed to the environment as a result. The sheriff said the 35-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Worker killed in rollover crash at north Phoenix construction site
PHOENIX, AZ — Police say an 18-year-old man is dead after an apparent crash at a north Phoenix construction site over the weekend. The crash happened Saturday around 2 p.m. when officers were called to an injured person near Cave Creek Road and Sonoran Desert Drive. When officers arrived, employees at the job site led officers to an area where Omar Marino Alonso was found on the ground, seriously injured. A short time later, Alonso was pronounced dead at the scene, next to a heavily damaged water truck. Investigators later learned that Alonso was driving the truck down a hill when he lost control and rolled over. Alonso was thrown out of the vehicle and suffered numerous injuries. Speed is believed to be a factor in the crash. Investigators are working to learn more about what led up to the crash and say the investigation remains ongoing.
IDOT worker killed after truck hit by train in Iroquois County
DANFORTH, Ill. (WICS) — An IDOT worker is dead after his truck was hit by a train on Monday morning. According to Illinois State Police, troopers responded to the 2300 block of North west of US Route 45, Danforth, Iroquois County for a crash involving a train and an IDOT truck. The driver of the truck was transported to an area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Irondale police lieutenant hit, killed directing traffic at Church of the Highlands’ 21 Days of Prayer
Irondale, AL — A veteran Irondale police lieutenant was hit and killed early Monday while directing traffic at Church of the Highlands. Lt. Mark Meadows, 60, was putting out cones at the intersection of Grants Mill Road and Overton Road as the church’s 21 Days of Prayer was preparing to let out when he was struck by an oncoming motorist. The crash happened shortly before 7 a.m. Monday, shutting down all lanes of Grants Mill Road for hours. Meadows was taken to Grandview Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Honolulu firefighter dies; 5 people injured in McCully building fire
Honolulu, HI — A 25-year-old Honolulu firefighter died and five people were seriously injured Monday night in a two-story building fire on Young Street that caused a partial roof collapse. Honolulu firefighter Jeffrey Fiala, 25, died due to injuries he sustained while fighting a fire in McCully. Honolulu Fire Department Chief Kalani Hao said outside Straub Benioff Hospital in Honolulu that a firefighter who had been with the department for a year and a half had been “tragically killed” Four other firefighters were hospitalized at the Queen’s Medical Center, Hao said in a brief joint appearance with Mayor Rick Blangiardi. A sixth person, a civilian, was taken to a hospital in serious condition.
USPS mail carrier dies on Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA — A United States Postal Service employee died Monday afternoon at the intersection of Valencia and 17th Streets. Around 1:35 p.m. on Jan. 6, San Francisco police officers responded to a report that the driver of a USPS vehicle was hunched over the steering wheel. Attempts to administer CPR, an officer at the scene said, were unsuccessful. The mail carrier was pronounced dead at the scene.
Truck driver killed in rollover crash
ST. THOMAS, VI — A truck driver died in a rollover accident Friday on St. Thomas, according to the V.I. Police Department. The incident occurred at around 9:30 a.m., when officers responded to a 911 call about a cement truck that went over a hillside in Smith Bay. Police identified the driver as Liston Pickering, an employee of Heavy Materials LLC. Investigators determined that Pickering “was reversing south-eastward uphill with a load of cement when his rear right tire struck a big rock that was on the right side of the roadway,” according to police. “The cement truck began to slide downhill, and the driver was unable to gain control of the truck. The truck then went over the hillside flipping several times and eventually came to a stop down the hillside,” according to police. The truck ended up 200 to 300 feet downhill, and Pickering was found unresponsive and pinned in the vehicle, according to police.
Riverside County motorcycle deputy killed in collision on freeway
Riverside, CA — A Riverside County sheriff’s deputy was killed on Wednesday in a collision involving his patrol motorcycle and a sedan stopped in traffic on the 91 Freeway. Deputy Timothy Corlew was fatally injured about 5:35 a.m. on the westbound 91 at La Sierra Avenue in Riverside, according to the California Highway Patrol. CHP Inland Empire Division spokesman Officer Dan Olivas said in a statement released Wednesday afternoon that Corlew was traveling in the HOV lane at an unconfirmed speed when he encountered “traffic ahead … stopped across all lanes.” “For reasons still under investigation, the deputy collided with the rear of a Toyota (Lexus), and he was ejected from his motorcycle onto a Hyundai sedan,” Olivas said.
Vietnamese community mourns New Orleans East store owner killed in armed robbery
NEW ORLEANS, LA – The city’s Vietnamese community is mourning a beloved New Orleans East grocery store owner whom police say was killed in a New Year’s Eve armed robbery gone wrong. According to investigators, Thanh Vu attempted to intervene when three suspects began stealing cartons of cigarettes from her Viet My Supermarket around 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Vu was shot, her assailants fled and Vu died three days later in a New Orleans hospital. Vu’s daughter said her family fled its homeland to escape Communist rule and find a better life in the United States, only to see their matriarch mortally wounded inside the grocery store that had served its community for more than 30 years.
Security guard killed while trying to stop gunman from entering Honduras consulate in DeKalb County
DORAVILLE, Ga. — A growing memorial outside the Honduran Consulate Office in DeKalb County honors the sacrifice of Jesus Loera, a security guard who was shot and killed while protecting people from a gunman trying to enter the building. “It’s really sad the way he went out, but I’m very happy that he saved a bunch of lives from being taken that day,” Josue Valdez, one of the mourners who added flowers to the memorial, told Channel 2′s Matt Johnson. Loera, originally from Mexico, died during the attack, which occurred around 2:30 p.m. in front of the consulate. Doraville police arrested 32-year-old Jose Emanuel Olmo-Rosado on Monday and charged him with murder and two counts of aggravated assault. According to the police report, a witness saw Olmo-Rosado trying to push into the Consulate when Loera sprayed pepper spray. That’s when the witness says Olmo-Rosado shot Loera four or five times in the chest. Police said Olmo-Rosado attempted to flee the scene after the double shooting, which also left another person injured. A motive for the attack has not been released.
Man killed in workplace incident in lower Florence Co.
FLORENCE COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — A man died last week after being injured by construction equipment while working on Big Swamp Road in the Pamplico area of Florence County, according to officials with S.C. Highway Patrol. Officials said he died at a local hospital. The Florence County Coroner’s Office said the victim is a 64-year-old man from Clarendon County.
Md. firefighter dies after medical emergency during house fire
LAUREL, Md. — A Montgomery County firefighter died while working at a house fire in the 15000 block of Bradford Drive in Laurel on Jan. 11. Montgomery County Fire Chief Corey Smedley announced the death of the firefighter during a press conference at Adventist HealthCare White Oak Hospital, WJLA reported. The 46-year-old firefighter, whose identity was not released, suffered a medical emergency while on the fireground. EMS personnel provided treatment and transported the firefighter to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Smoke Shop employee killed in Lumpkin Road robbery; Suspect arrested
Augusta, SC — A deadly robbery at a Lumpkin Road store on Friday night has led to the quick arrest of one suspect, according to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded to the Smoke Shop at 2303 Lumpkin Road around 9:30 p.m. Friday after reports of a gunshot victim. Upon arrival, they found an employee of the Augusta store with a gunshot wound. Despite efforts to stabilize the victim, paramedics transported them to the hospital, where they were later pronounced dead at 7:35 a.m. Saturday. He was identified as 29-year-old Abdallah Abu Rubeha of Augusta, who is originally from Amman, Jordan.
Sawmill owner killed in logging incident near Hillsdale
PITTSFORD, MI — The owner of a sawmill business outside Hillsdale died in a logging incident, his family shared on social media. Nathan Fether, 36, died Saturday, Jan. 4, according to his obituary. Details of the incident are unknown at this time. RV dealer offers temporary housing for fire victims, The lifelong Pittsford resident owned Fether Hardwoods, a specialty sawmill operation about 16 miles southeast of Hillsdale.
MTA track worker dies after collapsing in Brooklyn
New York, NY — An MTA track cleaner collapsed on the job in Brooklyn this week, dying a short time later of an apparent heart attack, the Transport Workers Union said. Ricardo Louis, 44, was assigned to a track cleaning gang along the L line in Bushwick early Wednesday morning when he collapsed aboard a work train in the Morgan Ave. station at 3:10 a.m., Alina Ramirez, spokeswoman for TWU Local 100, told the Daily News. Ramirez said Louis’ co-workers attempted to revive him while calling 911. An FDNY spokesperson confirmed EMS transported Louis to Woodhull Hospital, while he was in an apparent state of respiratory or cardiac arrest. The 44-year-old was pronounced dead at Woodhull.
Powerful winds blow over at least a dozen semi trucks in California, one truck driver killed
San Bernardino County, Ca – A truck driver lost his life after his vehicle was blown over in San Bernardino County, California, on Wednesday. A blowover crash occurred around 9:30 a.m. on January 8 at the westbound 210 transition to southbound I-15 in Fontana, California. San Bernardino County Fire responded to the scene and found that a semi truck had been blown over onto a guardrail, trapping the driver inside the cab. Crews performed an extrication and the driver was transported to a hospital in “grave” condition. The driver did not survive, according to reports. Santa Ana winds blew over at least a dozen semi trucks in the Inland area on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to local outlet Pain in the Pass. Many of the blowovers occurred on the I-15 Freeway corridor.
Taos Allsup’s employee killed in stabbing outside store
TAOS, NM — An Allsup’s employee died Wednesday morning after being stabbed in an altercation outside the Allsup’s on Paseo del Pueblo Sur in Taos. Taos police Lt. Stephen Ortega said surveillance video of the incident shows at 7:22 a.m. the victim and a man suspected of being Alden Lujan exchanged words, walked outside and then swung at each other. Police allege when the suspect launched his fist, he held a knife and struck the victim with it near his collarbone. ”What we do know is that Alden was a customer going into the store,” Ortega said. “According to video surveillance, it looked like he had some words exchanged with the victim. In this, we learned the victim was an employee of Allsup’s. What we gathered was this was his very first day there.”
Jay County Veteran Paramedic Dies in the Line of Duty
Jay County, IN — Jay County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Paramedic Larry Nuckols passed away in the line of duty Friday, according to a Facebook post by Jay County EMS. Nuckols was working a 24-hour shift and had answered several calls when he suffered an apparent heart attack at the station. His partner began CPR and dispatchers summoned help with the call, “Man Down, CPR in progress,” coming from within the agency’s own facility. He could not be revived. In addition to serving as a paramedic, Nuckols was an Army veteran.
Security guard killed in northwest Baltimore shooting
BALTIMORE, MD — A security officer was killed Sunday afternoon in a shooting in northwest Baltimore. Police have identified the victim in this case as 37-year-old Jamal Davis, who was working at the time of the shooting. According to Baltimore police, officers responded to the 4400 block of Reisterstown Road around 4:40 p.m. for a reported shooting at a McDonald’s restaurant. When they arrived, they found a man who was working as a security guard suffering from gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital and later died. The initial investigation revealed that the victim was shot by an unidentified suspect during a physical altercation.