How workers died last week. Trench collapse, avalanche, crushed by a car lift, fall, fire, struck by a loose tire, collapsed ceiling, traffic accident, 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.
Worker killed in trench collapse at Newberry County construction site
Newberry, SC — A construction worker is dead after a trench collapse in South Carolina. Police in Newberry, S.C., said they were called to a construction site on Monday morning for a worker trapped in a ditch. Coroner Laura Kneece identified the deceased worker as 53-year-old Anthony Marquet Hollowman from Bishopville. EMS, Fire and rescue crews responded to the construction site and found the worker buried in a ditch. Officials said the worker had been laying a water line in a trench when it collapsed and trapped him. Attempts to save the man using specialized trench rescue units were unsuccessful, officials said. Fire crews from Columbia, S.C. with expertise in trench and confined space rescue operations were called, but the worker died at the scene. The incident remains under investigation, officials said. According to the Center for Construction Research and Training, 39 workers “died while performing trench/excavation work in 2022, up from 15 in 2021.”
Ski Patroller Dies after being caught in Avalanche
Mammoth Lakes, CA — A ski patroller caught in a Mammoth Mountain avalanche and then taken to a Nevada hospital has died, Mammoth Mountain officials said Saturday. “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the Mammoth Mountain Ski Patroller, Claire Murphy, who was hospitalized last Friday and passed away as a result of her injuries,” a statement from the mountain issued late Saturday, Feb. 22, said. Murphy was doing avalanche mitigation with a team of ski patrollers on Lincoln Mountain — a dome peak within the Mammoth Mountain ski area — when an avalanche broke loose in an area known as the Avalanche (Avy) Chutes on Friday, Feb. 14 . The accident occurred after approximately six feet of snow fell in 36 hours following a heavy Sierra snowstorm. Lincoln, which has steep chutes, rock bands and tree-skiing, was closed off to the public when the snow broke loose. Murphy and another ski patroller were caught in the cascading snow. Numerous Mammoth Mountain ski patrollers were on site immediately to assist with rescue efforts, using beacon technology to locate the individuals, Mammoth officials said. One patroller was recovered at the scene uninjured and Murphy — who mountain officials described as being in “serious” condition — was taken to Mammoth Hospital and later flown out to a Reno, Nevada trauma center.
Auto Mechanic Crushed and Killed after vehicle falls off a lift
Harrisburg, PA — A mechanic died after an accident at an auto repair shop. The county coroner’s office on Friday said Adamou Abdoulaye, 61, died from multiple traumatic injuries. Abdoulaye, who was frequently referred to as “Mechanic Ali” by patrons and neighbors, was fatally injured late Thursday morning after a vehicle he was working on at A-1 Auto Repair fell onto him from a lift, according to witnesses. The death was ruled accidental and Harrisburg police said the matter is not a criminal incident. OSHA is investigating Abdoulaye’s death and has six months to issue a report.
Utility Worker Killed in Maryland House Explosion
Abingdon, MD — A house explosion in Bel Air, Maryland, left a Baltimore Gas and Electric employee and the home owner dead. Master Deputy of the Maryland State Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire confirmed that a 35-year-old BGE employee was on the scene at the time of the explosion. Alkire also confirmed that a second deceased victim was found in the house, who is believed to be the 73-year-old homeowner. The identity has to be confirmed by the medical examiner’s office. A neighbor suffered injuries including cuts and bruises, according to fire officials.
Walmart employee Dies in Workplace Accident
Henderson, NC — A Walmart employee was killed during a workplace accident that took place on Wednesday, February 19 at the Walmart Distribution Center located at Vanco Mill Road. Deputies say Josue David Virella Rivera of Henderson, was operating a mechanical tow motor to move product when the accident occurred. He died at the scene. The Vance County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident with other outside agencies. No witnesses to the accident have been identified at this time.
Construction Worker dies after fall at Lakewood site
Lakewood, NJ — A construction worker died Friday morning after falling from the third floor of the work site. At 7:27 a.m., a 51-year-old worker, identified as Jorge O. Paltan-Ajila of the Bronx died at the construction site at 1600 Avenue of the States in Lakewood, Lakewood Police Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said. Preliminary investigations show that, while working on the third floor of the construction site, Paltan-Ajila slipped and fell while handing tools to another worker on a boom lift, Staffordsmith said. Paltan-Ajila was wearing a safety harness but wasn’t secured to any anchor point. As he stepped on an unsecured beam, both the beam and Paltan-Ajila slipped off the platform, causing severe traumatic injuries, according to Staffordsmith. Despite efforts to provide aid, Paltan-Ajila was pronounced dead at the scene. Staffordsmith said an investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing, and authorities are working closely with OSHA to ensure safety measures are in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Two Virginia Beach Police Officers Killed during traffic stop
Truck Driver Killed in single Vehicle Crash
Brandon, MS — A truck driver was killed on Friday morning around 2:30 am. Brandon Police Department responded to a single vehicle accident involving a tractor trailer on Interstate 20 in the westbound lanes at exit 56. When officers arrived they found the vehicle flipped onto its side in the median. The driver of the vehicle, Jerri Hawkins, of Forrest City, Arkansas, died from injuries she sustained in the accident.
Road Worker Struck and Killed by loose tire on highway
Saint George, SC — A worker with the South Carolina Department of Transportation was struck and killed by a loose truck tire Tuesday morning. The incident happened around 9 a.m. on US 15, about 12 miles north of Saint George. Dorchester County Coroner Paul Brouthers said the worker, identified as 24-year-old Jerad Devin Rose, was standing on the highway shoulder when he was struck by a tire that became disengaged from a passing 18-wheeler. Rose was pronounced dead at the scene. The South Carolina Highway Patrol and Dorchester County Coroner’s Office are investigating.
Worker dies after accident at Memphis plant
Memphis, TN — A man died after an accident at a local plant. Memphis Police officers responded to the accident at Runyon Industries at 4300 Millington Rd. just before 8:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 17, 2025. Investigators said the plant manager told them he heard a loud explosion outside, and found an employee pinned under a railroad car. Memphis Fire paramedics rushed the victim to Regional One Hospital, where he died from his injuries. Investigators have not said what caused the accident. ABC24 reached out to management at Runyon Industries, who had no comment.
Firefighter dies, another collapses while responding to structure fire in McDowell County
McDowell County, WV — One firefighter died and another was injured while responding to a structure fire Monday in McDowell County, officials said. Jeffrey Lawson, 54, of War, WV, suffered a medical issue while responding to a fire about 7:30 p.m. along Marshall Highway in Jolo, W.Va., according to a news release from the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office. After transferring Lawson to an ambulance, the news release said he became unconscious and was later pronounced dead at the hospital after CPR efforts were unsuccessful in the ambulance. At the scene of the fire, Gary M. Coleman, 51, of Jolo collapsed with difficulty breathing and smoke inhalation, the news release said. Coleman was flown to a Charleston area hospital where he was treated overnight. Investigators said the structure that was on fire was also the residence of Coleman. The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
Semi truck Runs off the Road killing Truck Driver
Saint Cloud, MN — A truck driver is dead, and his passenger was injured when his semi ran off the road late Tuesday night. According to the Minnesota State Patrol’s preliminary crash report, Just after 11:30, 60-year-old David Elders of Joliet, Illinois, was driving a Freightliner truck west on Interstate 94 when it left the road at milepost 124 in Sauk Centre Township and went into the ditch, causing the truck to partially roll and land on its side. His passenger, 61-year-old Kim Elders, also of Joliet, was hurt but did not seek further treatment. Investigators say both were buckled up, and alcohol was not a factor.
Truck Driver Killed in Single Vehicle Crash
Willington, CT — A tractor-trailer driver was killed on Route 32 in Willington Tuesday morning, state police said. The crash took place just before 6 a.m. The tractor-trailer veered off the road while heading north and slammed into a Frontier utility pole on the right shoulder and then a guardrail on the opposite side of the road, according to a crash report. The truck is owned by Coast to Coast Express out of Windsor Locks, state police said. The driver, identified as 55-year-old Jeffrey Benis, of Windsor Locks, was taken to Rockville General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, according to a crash report.
Overturned Truck Kills Driver at the scene
Fargo, ND – A truck driver was killed early Monday morning when he lost control of the truck he was driving on I-94 west of Fargo. The North Dakota Highway Patrol says the westbound straight truck left the interstate and went into the median near Buffalo. The truck overturned and came to arrest on its side on the freeway. The 62-year-old driver, who’s name has not been released, died at the scene. The crash was reported about 5:30 a.m. The patrol, Cass County deputies, Casselton Ambulance and the Buffalo Fire Department responded to the scene.
Driver killed after tanker crash in Wilkinson County, spilling thousands of gallons of fuel, coroner says
Wilkinson County, GA — A tanker truck carrying nearly 8,800 gallons of fuel overturned in Wilkinson County on Sunday, killing the driver and causing a gas spill overnight, according to Wilkinson County Coroner Dusty Thomas. The truck driver, 34-year-old Antwan Henley of Macon, died after being taken to Fairview Park Hospital in Dublin, Thomas said. He says the truck was heading east on Highway 57 at around 6 p.m. when the truck drifted off the shoulder. Henley overcorrected, overturning the vehicle. The driver was ejected from the truck, Thomas said. The tanker detached from the semi-truck, Thomas said, causing gas to drain into a ditch that heads towards Commissioner Creek. He says a hazmat team from Macon’s fire department responded. Thomas says a report will be issued by either the Environmental Protection Agency or Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division on any environmental impacts caused by the crash.
Airman killed, another wounded in shooting at Air Force Base in New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM – A shooting at a U.S. Air Force base in New Mexico early Saturday left one airman dead and another wounded, military officials said, adding that it was not an act of terrorism or an attack by an outsider. A statement from Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque said security forces responded to a shooting near one of the entrances to the base at about 2 a.m. One airman died at the scene, and the other was taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound to a hand and later discharged, the statement said. The Air Force released few other details and did not immediately say whether anyone was in custody or if military authorities were searching for a suspect. A spokesperson declined to say whether the shooter or shooters also were airmen. Airman Basic Brion Teel-Scott, 27, of Bordentown, NJ assigned to the 377th Security Forces Squadron died after fleeing an attempted detention. The incident remains under investigation. The Air Force Office of Special Investigations is leading the investigation.
Sheriff Deputy killed while responding to domestic call
Hinds County, MS – A sheriff’s deputy is confirmed to have been killed in the line of duty over the weekend. Sheriff Tyree Jones took to social media on Sunday night to announce that Martin Shields Jr., 37, was shot and killed while responding to a domestic call for service at a home on Midway Road in Terry. A Black male believed to be Eric Brown, 42, was also discovered dead inside the residence. At 7:19 p.m., Jones reported that deputies with the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office were on the scene of a “very serious situation” and that a SWAT team had been activated. One hour later, he issued a “be on the lookout” (BOLO) for Brown who was wanted for questioning in connection with the domestic call for service. Brown, according to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, is the suspected killer. Brown is also reported to have shot his wife and a “female accomplice” at the Midway Road home. Both individuals are said to be in stable condition at this time. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation is assessing the fatal incident.
One officer dead, Five others injured in shooting at Pennsylvania hospital
West Manchester Township, PA – One officer was killed and at least five others were shot in a hostage situation at a hospital in York County, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, according to state officials. The suspect, Diogenes Archangel Ortiz, entered UPMC Memorial in West Manchester Township with a semi-automatic handgun and zip ties at around 10:30 a.m. He then went to the ICU and took several hospital staff hostage, officials said at a press conference Saturday afternoon. Ortiz shot a hospital doctor, nurse and custodian, all of whom are now stable, officials said. Three police officers were shot during the incident and one died. West York Borough police officer Andrew Duarte was killed in the shooting, the borough confirmed. The other two officers were hospitalized in stable condition. Law enforcement from multiple agencies, including West York Borough Police, Pennsylvania State Police, and the York County Quick Response Team, responded to the situation. Officers attempted to negotiate with Ortiz, but he emerged from the ICU holding a hospital staff member at gunpoint, her hands bound by zip ties. “The officers were left with no recourse,” Barker said. “They opened fire, killing Ortiz and preventing further loss of life.” UPMC said no patients have been injured. A senior law enforcement official tells ABC News that the gunman had trouble accepting that his family member was terminally ill, and was upset over a perceived lack of care. That family member died within the last week.
One dead in collapse at Bar Harbor Regency
Bar Harbor, ME – One person was killed after an exterior canopy at the Bar Harbor Regency hotel collapsed in the early morning hours on Monday, Feb. 24. According to local authorities, the victim was Mark King, 64, of Boynton Beach, Fla. King was underneath the structure that covers the entrance to the hotel when it collapsed. “Upon arrival, Bar Harbor Fire Department worked to locate the trapped person and free them from the collapsed debris,” read a joint statement released by the BHFD along with the Bar Harbor and Mount Desert police departments. “Despite efforts, the individual involved … succumbed to their injuries. He was pronounced deceased on scene.” There has been no official word on the suspected cause of the collapse, though the press release states that local police conducted an initial investigation into King’s death upon arriving at the scene. The department is now working with the state of Maine Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) on a continued investigation into the incident. OSHA will serve as the primary investigating agency for this case. The Bar Harbor Regency, located at 123 Eden St., is owned by Ocean Properties Ltd. The company could not immediately be reached for comment.
Contract worker dies in Construction Accident
Shreveport, LA – A worker for a contractor tragically died Saturday (Feb. 22) when he was trying to repair a leaking air hose at a construction site. It happed off the 6900 block of Pines Road. An official with the Shreveport Police Department says the construction crew was in the process of sandblasting a Shreveport city water tank before painting it. The deceased was identified as Carlos Cardenas, 39. The Shreveport Police Department has ordered an autopsy and will continue investigating this fatal accident.
Man dies in fatal logging incident in remote Oregon
Sweet Home, OR –A logger died Thursday in a remote area east of Sweet Home while working on a logging operation, the Linn County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. Oregon workplace safety regulators are investigating the death of 32-year-old Christopher Butler. According to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, deputies and the Sweet Home Fire Department arrived at a forested area off Canyon Creek Road to rescue Christopher Butler around 3:07 p.m. on Thursday. Authorities said several members of the logging crew attempted to move Butler to a place where he could receive emergency care, but he died of his injuries before he could be hospitalized. The Sheriff’s Office said there was “no evidence of foul play or equipment malfunctions” on the scene. The Oregon Safety and Health Administration will continue investigating the cause of the fatal accident.
Coroner identifies semi-truck driver killed in Highway 58 crash as 28-year-old Fresno man
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KBAK/KBFX) — The Kern County Coroner’s Office has identified the driver of a semi-truck who died after overturning on Highway 58 as 28-year-old Arun Mokkal of Fresno. The coroner’s report said on February 21, 2025, at around 6:30 p.m., Mokkal was driving a semi-truck when it overturned on westbound Highway 58, east of Broome Road between Keene and Tehachapi. The report said he died at the scene.