How workers died last week. Decapitated in woodchipper, crushed by concrete slab, air crashes, coal mining, electrocution ,airport tarmac accident, plane crashes, vehicle incidents, shooting. 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.
Landscaper killed after being dragged headfirst into wood chipper in front of horrified colleagues while trimming trees
Ocean Ridge, FL — A landscaper was killed after being dragged headfirst into a wood chipper while trimming trees. Terrified colleagues witnessed the worker getting pulled into the deadly machine headfirst all the way up to his shoulders. He had been working for Carlton’s Tree Service and had only started work 30 minutes before the fatal tragedy. Town Manager Lynne Ladner spoke in a news conference and told reporters that the landscaper was unfortunately decapitated by the lethal chopper after he went to put wood into the machine.The man, who has not been identified, died at the scene after suffering devastating injuries. He had been working for Carlton’s Tree Service and had only started work 30 minutes before the fatal tragedy. The Occupational Safety and Health American Society is investigating the accident.
Texas oilfield accident leaves one worker dead
Houston, TX— An oilfield worker was killed on Monday where ProPetro Services was conducting fracking operations at a well site owned by Permian Resources Corp. Edward Rodriguez, 45, died after a pressurized device ruptured. Two other workers were hospitalized. ProPetro shut down fracking operations and powered down the area for a safety investigation, according to a statement from the Reeves County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division Investigators determined that a pressurized line containing about 9,000 pounds per square inch detached from a fracking unit, causing the incident. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the incident.
Worker crushed to death by concrete slab
Egg Harbor Township, NJ — A roofer died while working on a ground-level staircase this week. The unidentified 23-year-old man was killed by a concrete slab that fell on him outside the apartment building he was working on. A roofing crew was cleaning up at about 3:10 p.m. after doing demolition/construction on the exterior of the Club at Tilton, Egg Harbor Township Police Capt. Cherie Burgan said. Two units have staircases on the second floor that meet halfway down and merge into one staircase that goes to the ground level, Burgan explained. There is a concrete slab at the merge. A 23-year-old man was underneath the slab cleaning up, when it fell on top of him, according to the report. The worker suffered severe internal injuries.
Coal miner dies of injuries after mine surface collapsed
Boone County, W.Va. — A coal miner died on Wednesday following a work-related incident. Steven Fields, 55, of Chauncey died of his injuries he sustained after a surface of the mine fell at the Twilight MTR Surface Mine in Boone at 7:30 a.m., according to the U.S. Department of Labor, Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Construction worker killed when house collapses in Weymouth
Weymouth, MA — One construction worker has died after a construction collapse on Tuesday. The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office announced that the victim, 29-year-old Mario Diaz Obando of Fall River, had died. Four other workers were hospitalized, and their injuries are considered minor.
Airport Employee Killed in Tarmac Accident
Charlotte, NC — An American Airlines worker was killed Monday morning on the tarmac at North Carolina’s Charlotte Douglas International Airport just after 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 27, authorities received a report of “an employee reportedly struck by a vehicle on the tarmac,” an airport spokesperson confirmed to U.S.A. Today. The 66-year-old unidentified worker lost their life in the accident.
Tow truck driver killed in crash
Jefferson County, TX — One person is dead after a tow truck carrying an SUV crashed into the back of a sanitation truck on Highway 90, according to the DPS. The preliminary crash investigation indicates that the tow truck driver failed to control his speed and crashed into the rear of the garbage truck. The unidentified driver of the tow truck died at the scene.
Construction worker killed in Whatcom County crash
Whatcom County, WA — A construction worker is dead after being struck by a construction vehicle while at a job near Bellingham, according to the Washington State Patrol. A construction vehicle was backing up down the right shoulder of eastbound Smith Road just after 9 a.m. Tuesday while the worker was walking westbound on the same shoulder. The deceased worker was identified as Brandon Gipson, a 42-year-old man from Ferndale. The 64-year-old man who was driving the construction vehicle was not injured, WSP says.
Indiana grocery store employee killed in shooting
Elkhart, IN — A grocery store employee was shot and killed Monday evening at work when a lone gunman entered the store and opened fire, Indiana officials said Tuesday. Annasue Rocha, 19, was identified as the employee. The gunman fired numerous shots inside Martin’s Super Market, killing a customer and injuring several police officers along with the grocery store employee.
School bus driver killed after being hit by another bus
Maple Shade, NJ —A school bus driver died after he was struck by another bus on Tuesday afternoon in a bus garage at Maple Shade High School. Police identified the victim as 85-year-old Jack Hohwald, a Maple Shade resident. Hohwald was outside of his bus when another district driver hit him. The driver of the striking bus remained at the scene, police said. No charges have been filed so far.
Elementary school crossing guard killed after struck by vehicle
Layton, UT — A crossing guard was killed after being struck by a vehicle while working near a Layton elementary school early Tuesday. According to police, 67-year-old Steve Winn was hit on Main Street near 1600 North, which is located near Vae View Elementary School, while holding a stop sign and wearing a reflective vest. Lt. Travis Lyman of the Layton Police Department noted that it appears that Winn “was doing everything the way he was supposed to be doing it. The lights appear to be configured in a way that he was supposed to be out there, crossing the kids and had just finished when this car came through northbound.” Although several children were in the area when the accident occurred, none were injured.
Utility worker dies after being electrocuted in North Texas
Bartonville, TX — A utility worker electrocuted at the intersection of McMakin Road and Broome Road. The victim was identified Monday as 48-year-old Jay Hardin. Police said the incident “resulted in a fatality and is currently under investigation.” Bartonville police said Hardin’s employer will conduct an internal investigation to determine the cause of the incident.
Worker dies after getting trapped in tanker truck
Louisville, Ky – A worker died in the hospital after getting stuck in a tanker truck on Thursday, Jan. 30. Louisville Fire said at 2:08, crews were dispatched to the 1300 block of East Main Street, the location of Louisville Trailer Wash, on the report of a fallen worker. It was soon upgraded to a confined space rescue and more equipment was sent over. LFD said the product that was originally inside the tank was pork fat, but the tank was empty except for residue at the bottom at the time of the rescue. The semi was carrying an intermodal tank. Louisville police later confirmed the man died shortly after being taken to the hospital. According to LFD, the victim was an employee of Louisville Trailer Wash.
Truck driver shot to death on I-295 in apparent encounter with another driver
Henrico, VA − A Massachusetts truck driver was shot and killed late Friday night on southbound Interstate 295 in an apparent encounter with a fellow driver, state police said. Silvio Sobrinho, 58, of Revere, Massachusetts, was found slumped over the wheel of his rig around 11:30 p.m. Friday near the 895 Pocahontas Parkway interchange, a state police statement read. He had been shot, and bullet holes were found in the passenger-side of the cab. Reports indicate that Sobrinho was traveling in the left lane of I-295 when a second tractor-trailer riding in the center lane and made contact with Sobrinho’s truck. The contact sent Sobrinho’s truck off the left side of the highway and into a guardrail, while the second rig kept going.
Gas Station Murdered by Gunman While on Duty
Harvest, Ala. — Gunman killed a woman while she was working at a gas station Saturday night. The Madison County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as 26-year-old Taylor Boldosser North, she was an employee at the gas station and was on duty at the time of the shooting. North was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses on the scene reported that a black man entered the store, walked up to the counter, and shot the clerk. Sheriff’s deputies announced Sunday that 21-year-old Jahree Daiquan Williams was charged with murder for a shooting at the Circle K on 1006 Harvest Road around 8 p.m. It is still unknown if anything was stolen.
Construction Worker Died In Harlem After Being Pulled Down By Rope
Harlem, NY – A construction worker has died after a fall at a construction site located at 1505 Park Ave. New York City officials are saying that the accident took place on Wednesday afternoon. An unidentified 45-year-old worker got one of his legs caught in a rope. This led to the man being pulled to the ground and falling. Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. But medical efforts to save him were not successful. He was later pronounced dead. A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.
4 American Airlines Crew members and 3 Army soldiers were killed on duty in a Washington DC Aircraft Crash.
Washington DC — On January 29, 2025, an American Airlines CRJ-700 passenger jet collided midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., resulting in the deaths of all 67 individuals on board both aircraft. The Charlotte-based flight crew aboard the American Airlines flight 5342 were killed in the crash: Flight attendant Ian Epstein, a fun-loving father who went from selling RVs to making it to the skies; Flight attendant Danasia Elder, who loved God, her kids and travel; Flight captain Jonathan Campos; Pilot Samuel Lilley, who was about to get married. The Army released the names of the crew members of the Black Hawk helicopter: Captain Rebecca Lobach, 28 years olds of Durham, NC; Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Md; and crew member Staff Sergeant Ryan O’Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Ga, all three soldiers were on a training flight out of Fort Belvoir, Va., just south of Washington, at the time of the accident.
Victims of Philadelphia air ambulance crash identified by jet company
Philadelphia, PA — Six people, including a mother and her daughter, who were killed in a small plane crash in Philadelphia have been identified by the company operating the medical transport jet. A seventh victim, who was not named, was on the ground at the time of the crash. Philadelphia mayor Cherelle Parker announced on Sunday that the injury count had gone up to 22, with five people still in hospital and three of those in critical condition. The cause of the crash is not yet known, but investigators recovered the aircraft’s black box on Sunday, the National Transport Safety Board said in a statement obtained by CBS, the BBC’s US news partner. A spokesman for Jet Rescue Air Ambulance disclosed the identity of victims to CBS. All were Mexican citizens, including the child onboard who was traveling to receive medical treatment. The spokesman identified the victims as Captain Alan Alejandro Montoya Perales, co-pilot Josue de Jesus Juarez Juarez, Doctor Raul Meza Arredondo, Rodrigo Lopez Padilla, Valentina Guzman Murillo, and Lizeth Murillo Ozuna.
Unbelievable,
It’s hard to believe so many god people have been lost 1 one week.