How workers died last week. Crushed by machinery, forklift, 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.
Father from Eight Mile killed in workplace accident
MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. — A truck accident took the life of a husband and father from Eight Mile. 35-year-old Robert Walters was killed in a workplace accident at the start of the year. Late at night on January 2nd, Robert Walters was working on a job at a Southern Intermodal Xpress truck yard on Bay Bridge Road in Prichard. His death certificate said he died after the truck he was working on accidentally ran over him.
Construction worker dies in accident at Sunnyside overpass project
Elkhart County, IN — Elkhart County authorities are investigating a fatal construction site accident that occurred on Saturday, Jan. 18, at the Sunnyside overpass project. Michael Knotts, 31, of La Porte, lost his life. Knotts worked for Rieth Reilly Construction. Knotts was directing a pipe in the driver, when unknown reason the driver become disconnected striking him. According to the Elkhart County Coroner’s Office, Knotts died from multiple blunt force injuries. The incident has been classified as accidental
Construction Worker Killed, Another Injured after Being Hit by Vehicle on West Orem Drive in Houston
Houston, TX – A construction worker was killed and another injured in an incident where they were struck by a vehicle at a construction zone in Houston on Thursday morning, according to the Houston Police Department. The incident took place in the 4000 block of West Orem Drive at White Heather Drive shortly before 9 a.m. The HPD reported that a Nissan Sentra slammed through barriers at a construction area and hit a worker, who died at the scene. The Nissan then hit a second worker and struck a utility pole, before colliding with a Lexus. The second worker who was struck was taken to a hospital with severe injuries. According to HPD, DUI was suspected to have played a role in the accident and the driver of the Nissan was detained. The accident is under investigation.
Mo. firefighter killed in fire engine rollover
THOMASVILLE, Mo. — A 72-year-old Thomasville volunteer firefighter died in a fire truck rollover while responding to a call. The Missouri Highway Patrol reported the crash on Highway 160 in Oregon County on Jan. 16. KSIS reported the firefighter was a passenger in a pumper that veered off the road, overcorrected, hit a ditch and overturned. The driver was transported to a hospital in Memphis with serious injuries, Ozarks First reported. Oregon County Sheriff Eric King said that the firefighters were responding to a structure fire.
OSHA investigating death of Hanover man who was pinned by chicken feeder in Codorus Twp.
Codorus Township, PA — OSHA is investigating a workplace accident that resulted in a Hanover man’s death after he was pinned inside of an automatic chicken feeder at a Codorus Township farm on Thursday, according to an OSHA spokesperson and the York County Coroner’s Office. Firefighters and EMS crews had been called for a report of a person trapped in a machine at the Bailey Farms operation of Hillandale Farms, on the 2800 block of Daron Road in Codorus Township around 2:02 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, according to York County 911 records. According to a release by the coroner’s office, a 61-year-old Hanover man, Fernando Estrada-Moreno, was a mechanic who was working on machinery at the farm. While he was working, he was reportedly “impacted and entrapped” by an automatic chicken feed trough, the coroner’s office release stated. Estrada-Moreno was found unresponsive by his coworkers, and life-saving measures were begun on the scene, the release said.
Raymond man killed in Terrace Heights workplace accident
Terrace Heights, WA — A 52-year-old Raymond man was killed Wednesday in an industrial accident in Terrace Heights. Sheriff’s deputies and medical crews were called to N.C. Machinery, 2100 Terrace Heights Drive, around 2 p.m. for an industrial accident. First responders found the man, identified as Randy Cummins, under a 20,000 pound counterweight, unconscious and not breathing, sheriff’s spokesman Casey Schilperoort said. Workers tried to move the counterweight, but Cummins was pronounced dead at the scene, Schilperoort said. Cummins died from crushing injuries to his chest, abdomen and pelvis, Chief Yakima County Deputy Coroner Marshall Slight said following an autopsy. Cummins death has been ruled an accident. Slight said the state Department of Labor and Industries was notified.
1 dead in Oakland work-related accident
OAKLAND, Calif. – One person is dead in Oakland following a work-related accident on Thursday, officials confirm. The Oakland Police Department said they are investigating the death that happened on the 400 block of 30th Street shortly before 11 a.m. Police said they located an unresponsive individual who had major injuries. Paramedics responded to the scene and pronounced the person dead. The initial police investigation only stated that this was some type of work-related accident. It is not clear what type of workplace this is. However, there is construction happening at this address in the Pill Hill neighborhood. The individual who was killed has not been identified.
Man dies in workplace incident along Lynnhaven River
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A Portsmouth man died in a workplace incident on Thursday, according to Virginia Beach Police Department. Police responded to the Lynnhaven River near the 3000 block of Little Haven Road, a neighborhood near Little Neck Road, just before 1 p.m. on Thursday. Investigators determined that 28-year-old Darryl Luck was fatally injured in a workplace incident. “His death is believed to be accidental at this time, however, our investigation is ongoing,” said Ricky LaBlue with Virginia Beach police.
Homicide investigation underway after worker found dead in ambulette in the Bronx
CASTLE HILL, the Bronx, NY — A 64-year-old employee was discovered dead in a private ambulette bus in the Bronx on Monday morning. The victim, later identified as Peter Forrest, was found at 201 Castle Hill Ave. just before just before 10:30 a.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene and police are investigating his death as a homicide. Neighbors who didn’t want to be identified said the driver was tied up inside and sources say he may have been stabbed. Neighbors said Forrest lived alone and described him as a hard-working man.
Wallingford dealership worker dies after being pinned between forklift and truck
WALLINGFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — Wallingford police say an Executive Dodge worker died Friday after becoming trapped between a forklift and truck. The incident happened around 2:30 p.m. at the Executive Dodge Jeep Ram dealership on South Orchard Street. When emergency crews arrived, police said medics used a Locas machine for chest compressions on the employee. He was later pronounced deceased at a local hospital. Police said the employee appeared to have been using the forklift to remove a container from the truck and while traveling up the driveway of the dealership, got out to look at something. When he got out, the forklift started rolling back down the slanted driveway, and the employee reportedly tried to run and stop it with his hands- subsequently becoming trapped between the forklift and truck.
Ohio worker dies in early morning accident at food distributor
BLUE ASH, Ohio (AP) — A worker in southwest Ohio was pinned between a wall and a metal ramp and died Wednesday in an apparent early morning accident, authorities said. First responders to a 911 call found a man dead at about 1:15 a.m., police in the northeast Cincinnati suburb of Blue Ash said. Police said he was between the wall and the ramp in a loading area at the SpartanNash warehouse.
Amazon warehouse altercation turns deadly; worker dies, another arrested
BERKELEY, Mo. — An Amazon worker died after being stabbed by a coworker Sunday at an Amazon warehouse in no rth St. Louis County. According to the Berkeley Police Department, the stabbing happened during an altercation between the two employees late Sunday night at Amazon STL9, located at 8850 Springdale Ave. The suspect, 41-year-old Patrick Thrower of St. Louis, was taken into custody at the scene. He was charged Monday with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in connection with the deadly stabbing. He was being held without bond. Charging documents say the victim, Kenneth Anderson-Lane, ultimately died as a result of a single puncture wound to his heart. Thrower admitted having the knife used in the stabbing, and video footage of the incident showed him holding the knife before confronting the victim directly outside of the entrance to the warehouse, according to charging documents.
Opelousas postal worker dies from injuries in Jan. 5 crash
OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY) — An Opleousas women has died after a crash while delivering mail in St. Landry Parish, authorities said. This crash ultimately claimed the life of Nakeisha Pitre, 46, of Opelousas. Louisiana State Police Troop I began investigating a two-vehicle crash just before 10 a.m. Jan. 5 on La. 3043 east of Webb Lane in St. Landry Parish. Investigators said a 1998 Chevrolet United States Postal Service mail vehicle, driven by Pitre, was traveling east on La. 3043, with a 2023 Honda Passport following behind. The driver of the Honda entered the westbound lane of La. 3043 in an attempt to pass. As the Honda was passing, the Chevrolet began to slow and turn left toward a private driveway, crossing into the Honda’s path and resulting in a collision with the rear of the Chevrolet, officials said. Pitre, who was ejected from the Chevrolet, was taken to a nearby hospital. State Police were notified Wednesday that Pitre had died.
Truck driver dies after being struck twice by separate vehicles on Fisher Road
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A truck driver is dead after being struck twice by separate vehicles Wednesday evening in the far west side of the city. According to Columbus police, a white tractor trailer was traveling west on Fisher Road at 6:21 p.m. when it stopped in the left turn lane, in front of the Eddie Bauer warehouse. For reasons yet unknown, the driver exited the truck and stepped into the left travel lane of westbound traffic. At that time, a white Honda CRV was heading west in the left lane and struck the truck driver. While lying in the right lane of the westbound lanes, a maroon Lexus RX350 struck the truck driver again. The truck driver was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:28 p.m
Brazoria County deputy shot and killed while serving a warrant
HOUSTON, TX — We’re learning more about the Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office deputy who was shot and killed in southwest Houston on Wednesday. According to authorities, the incident unfolded around 11:30 a.m. in a strip center off Stella Link Road just inside the South Loop. It happened outside a Dollar Tree where crime scene tape was seen surrounding the parking lot. BCSO Deputy Jesus Vargas was shot in the head and killed while he and other members of the U.S. Marshal’s Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force were serving a warrant on Robert Lee Davis, 56, a violent career criminal. Following an hours-long manhunt, Davis was killed during a shootout with law enforcement after a K9 found him hiding in a dumpster behind the same strip center. In a news conference, Brazoria County Sheriff Bo Stallman, joined by Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Houston Police Chief J. Noe Diaz, said Vargas was a 17-year-veteran. Stallman said Vargas was also a husband and a father of three.
Navasota police identify officer killed while saving lives on Highway 6
NAVASOTA, Texas (KBTX) – The City of Navasota is mourning the loss of Sergeant Mark Butler, who was killed in a head-on collision during a police pursuit on Wednesday afternoon. Sgt. Butler died of his injuries following the crash on the northbound lanes of Highway 6 near FM 3090. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the incident began in College Station just after 3 p.m., when police responded to a report of forgery at Prosperity Bank. Officers confronted a woman reportedly attempting to cash a fraudulent check. Police said the suspect took off in a black 2023 Jeep Wrangler, leading officers southbound on Highway 6. Under agency policy, College Station Police Department (CSPD) officers ended their pursuit after the suspect exited Highway 6 south at the FM 2154 ramp, then began driving south in the northbound lanes of Highway 6. Texas DPS Troopers continued to follow the vehicle as it entered Grimes County. At about 3:30 p.m., the Jeep collided head-on with a marked Navasota Police Department (NPD) Chevrolet Tahoe driven by Sgt. Butler. The sergeant was transported to CHI St. Joseph Hospital – Grimes Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Fairbanks bar employee killed in parking lot shooting
Fairbanks, AK —An employee of a Fairbanks bar was shot and killed in the parking lot early Wednesday morning, police said. The shooting occurred outside the Midnite Mine at about 3:15 a.m., the Fairbanks Police Department said. Medics declared the victim, an employee of the bar, dead at the scene, they said. Police have arrested 21-year-old Derrick Dewayne McCormick Jr. on first-degree murder charges, department spokeswoman Teal Soden said Wednesday afternoon. Officers responding to a 911 call of gunshots fired at the bar’s address found the employee fatally shot in the parking lot, police said. The person’s name was not released Wednesday. Soden said the bar was closed with just two employees still there, the victim and another person, when the shooting took place.
Chef Opens Fire in Restaurant, Killing 1 Employee, Wounding Another Before Shooting Himself
Raleigh, NC — The executive chef of a North Carolina French restaurant is in critical condition after he entered his restaurant Friday morning, shot two employees — one of them fatally — and then turned the gun on himself. Witnesses said George Colom entered the restaurant Coquette just before 11 a.m. on Friday and fatally shot 26-year-old Jonathan Schaffer and wounded another man. “We were having our daily meeting before the shift began,” Jonathan Aguilar, 24, told WRAL. “One of our employees had brought in a cake to celebrate a bartender’s birthday. She was cutting the cake, and moments later, I was shot.” Aguilar said he was shot in the hand.
Truck driver killed in crash off Hwy 101 in Santa Maria area
Santa Maria, CA — The driver of a semi-truck died in a crash off Highway 101 Thursday in the Santa Maria area. It happened at around 2:30 p.m. along the northbound lanes of the highway north of Solomon Road. Officers say the semi truck veered off the eastbound side of the road and ended up near a vineyard. Officers say the driver was killed. His name has not yet been released. No other vehicles were involved and no other information was immediately available.
St. Martinville man killed Monday in work-related accident in Lafayette
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — A St. Martinville man was killed in a work-related accident in Lafayette Monday morning, authorities said. Curtis Spencer, 71, of St. Martinville, died while working for Possum’s Tree Service the 200 block of Rue Iberville. Lafayette Police responded to a report at approximately 9:30 a.m. Monday of an employee injured at a work site. Upon arrival, officers discovered that the employee had died of injuries sustained in the accident. No other details were released