How workers died last week: Trapped in shredder, run over by a bulldozer, crane collapse, tree care, wind project, forklift, electrocution, building collapse, vehicle incidents, 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.
Man dies after becoming trapped in shredding machine at Muhlenberg Township facility
Muhlenberg Township, PA — A man died Wednesday afternoon after becoming trapped in a shredding machine at a document storage facility in Muhlenberg Township. According to initial emergency radio reports, a male worker was reported to have fallen into a shredding machine shortly before 4:00 p.m. First responders arriving on scene found the man unconscious and fully entrapped in the equipment. The Berks County Coroner’s Office was called to the scene, and a coroner’s vehicle was observed parked outside the facility. Muhlenberg Township Police had a side entrance to the building blocked off with crime scene tape as emergency personnel worked at the site. Authorities have identified the victim as 44-year-old Julio Gutierrez of Reading. The circumstances surrounding the accident have not been released. Authorities are expected to investigate the incident in coordination with workplace safety officials. Vital Records Control provides document storage, management, and secure shredding services for businesses.
2 Killed in Crane Collapse at Florida Hospital Construction Site, Police Say
Orlando, FL — Two construction workers were killed after a crane collapsed at a construction site in Merritt Island, Fla., on Wednesday, June 5, according to ABC News, Fox 35 and Click Orlando. The construction site is for the new Cape Canaveral Hospital on Merritt Island, which is 57 miles southeast of Orlando. The area experienced heavy winds and rain on Wednesday, but the cause of the incident is under investigation, ABC News reported. After the crane collapsed, two individuals were transported to a nearby hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries, Brevard County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tod Goodyear said, per ABC News. The two males are identified as 34-year-old, Isael Martinez of Haines City and 57-year-old, Hector Pozos of Kissimmee. The two workers were pouring a concrete column when the crane collapsed on top of them. Martinez was an employee of Baker Concrete and Pozos was a day laborer who was also working for Baker Concrete.
Worker, 43, killed in Brooklyn backyard shed collapse
Brooklyn, NY — A 43-year-old worker was killed when a backyard shed collapsed on him in Brooklyn on Thursday morning, officials said. It happened at about 9 a.m. at a shed at 3223 Quentin Rd. in Marine Park. The shed, attached to a two-story mixed-use building, partially collapsed on the worker as he made repairs and installed refrigeration to under-construction restaurant T Fusion Steakhouse on the first floor. He was found under a heavy slab of concrete, authorities said. Medics rushed the man to Brookdale Hospital Medical Center in critical condition, but he later died.
Forklift operator dies in workplace accident at WinCo Distribution Center
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — An Independence man died on Wednesday morning following a workplace accident at the WinCo Distribution Center in Woodburn, authorities said. According to Woodburn police, the incident took place around 11:40 a.m. “Preliminary investigation indicates that the incident occurred when a semi-truck was moved while a forklift operator was still inside the container. As a result, the forklift fell from the container,” police said. The forklift operator, Christopher Ryan De Jesus, 30, was pronounced dead at the scene. “The semi-truck driver remained on site and is fully cooperating with law enforcement. Both the forklift operator and the semi-truck driver were working for third-party contractors at the (WinCo) Distribution Center,” police said.
Construction worker killed in accident at new Olney hospital site
OLNEY, Texas – One man is dead following an accident at the construction site of the new Olney Hamilton Hospital. David Temple, a 53-year-old construction worker and Vernon resident, was working on foot when a fellow worker operating a bulldozer unknowingly ran him over. According to Olney police, the incident was a complete accident, and the bulldozer operator is not being charged.
Gruesome death at Davenport construction site could lead to upgraded charges for immigrant
Davenport, FL — A construction worker was killed in a gruesome incident at a Davenport apartment complex on June 4, and another worker, charged with manslaughter, could have his charges upgraded because he’s in the country illegally. Angel Bautista Martinez, 29, of Bradenton, was arrested on June 4 and faces a second-degree felony charge of manslaughter. Because of his undocumented status, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office is seeking to have the charge upgraded to a first-degree felony. Polk deputies responded to a report of an industrial accident at Grand Pointe Apartments, off Founders Way in Davenport, on the afternoon of June 4. Upon arriving, deputies found Jose Lopez lying on the ground near the front end of a skid steer, a type of compact front-end loader. It was clear Lopez was dead upon deputies’ arrival. Martinez told deputies Lopez had been on a skid steer leaning into the cab, while underneath the loading bucket, according to a deputy’s affidavit. Martinez said Lopez touched the controls causing the loading bucket to come down and trap him between the frame of the skid steer and bucket, immediately causing fatal head trauma, the affidavit said. Upon investigation, deputies learned there were four people working for New Generation Concrete, which had been contracted to pave the apartment complex’s sidewalks.
19-year-old father-to-be killed by fallen tree limb at work
COLORADO SPRINGS, Col. (KRDO) – A young father-to-be was killed by a falling tree limb while on the job. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office was called to respond to reports of a work accident on May 29 around 10 a.m., according to KRDO. Officials said a tree branch fell on 19-year-old Aiden Hernandez, but no other details were provided. First responders tried to give Hernandez CPR, but KRDO reports he died at the scene.
‘A broken heart’: Apache Junction police officer Gabriel Facio dies days after shooting
Officer Gabriel Facio, 46, was shot after responding to reports of a driver, later identified as Roger Nunez, 37, brandishing a firearm on June 2. Police said officers engaged in a shootout with Nunez after confronting him, during which Facio and Nunez were struck by gunfire. Facio, a 3-year veteran of the department, was described as a proud member of law enforcement who achieved his childhood dream to serve as a police officer, according to Apache Junction Police Chief Michael Pooley.
Tree Worker Dies On Job In Closter, Brought Down By Firefighters
Closter, MD — Authorities were trying to determine how long a tree worker who died on the job in Closter had been suspended in the air. The worker was tethered in a harness nearly 40 feet up, supported by climbing ropes attached to several parts of the tree, when he apparently suffered a medical emergency outside a home on Anderson Avenue on Saturday, Police Lt. Vincent Aiello said.
Man dies after possible contact with power line while trimming tree in Ocean Ridge
OCEAN RIDGE, Fla. — A tragic accident claimed the life of a 26-year-old man Wednesday morning while he was trimming a tree in Ocean Ridge. The Ocean Ridge Police Department (ORPD) told CBS12 News the electrocution occurred just before 11 a.m. Authorities believe the man — an independent subcontractor — may have accidentally struck an overhead power line while performing his duties at a home at 4 Beachway North in Ocean Ridge. Boynton Beach Fire Rescue responded to the scene around 10:50 a.m. after receiving reports of smoke in the air near David Lane. Upon arrival, firefighters located the worker, who was stuck in a tree near a live wire. Fire crews immediately contacted Florida Power & Light (FPL) to shut off power to the area. Police said that the outage was not directly caused by the accident itself. This marks the second fatal tree-trimming incident in Ocean Ridge this year. On January 28, another contractor lost his life in a horrific accident involving a wood chipper while working on a project at the Ocean Ridge Town Hall and Police Department property.
Michigan officials confirm 10th workplace death of 2025
Oakland County, MI — Michigan officials this week announced the 10th worker death in the state in 2025, an Oakland County laborer who was pinned by a lawnmower. The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration said the fatal incident took place May 28 in Oakland Township and the victim, whose gender was not released, died on May 31 after being hospitalized. The 32-year-old laborer was operating a riding lawnmower along the edge of a steep embankment with a 10-foot drop to a drainage ditch on May 28, MIOSHA said. The lawnmower overturned, and pinned the victim at the bottom of the ditch for about five minutes before coworkers could free them. The victim was transported to a hospital. The fatality was the second in one week in Michigan and the third in May. In 2024, Michigan saw 11 worker deaths in the first five months of the year while 14 workers died through May 2023.
Worker dies aboard vessel working on Empire Wind
New York — A crew member died working on offshore wind project Empire Wind 1, an offshore wind project near New York. The incident occurred June 2 aboard the Polaris, a U.S. flagged supply vessel operated by Tidewater. The fatality was confirmed by Equinor, the project developer, which said the incident occurred while a crew member was performing vessel maintenance on a ship preparing to work on Empire Wind. Additional details were not released. “This is a tragic marine accident,” said Molly Morris, senior vice president for Equinor Renewables Americas. “Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and colleagues who have lost a loved one. We extend our deepest condolences to all those affected.”
U.S. 23 construction worker dies in rollover crash south of Brighton
GREEN OAK TWP., MI – A Clinton Township man died Wednesday morning when his construction vehicle crashed and rolled in a construction zone south of Brighton. Emergency crews were called at 6:38 a.m. Wednesday, June 4, to the construction zone on southbound U.S. 23, south of Lee Road, for a roll over crash involving a commercial truck, according to the Green Oak Township Police Department. The man, 35, and sole occupant of the truck was found pinned inside the vehicle, a truck typically being used for roadway line painting. Emergency crews worked quickly to extricate him from the wreckage and to render first aid, police said. The driver, suffering critical injuries, succumbed to injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The preliminary investigation showed the man lost control of the truck in the area where the lanes shift and crashed, police said.
Grand Junction postal worker dies while completing mail route
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) – A Grand Junction man who worked for the United States Postal Service (USPS) died late last week. The worker has been identified as 59-year-old Dan Workman, who was a letter carrier from Grand Junction and a nine-year veteran of the USPS. According to the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 913, Workman died while completing his mail route on May 30.
Man dies after being found unresponsive at San Diego Amazon Warehouse
SAN DIEGO, CA — A man is dead after he was found unresponsive in a bathroom at a San Diego area Amazon Warehouse Tuesday morning. San Diego County Sheriff deputies were called to assist San Diego Fire-Rescue Department first responders with a medical emergency call just before 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Amazon Warehouse in the 6900 block of Otay Mesa Road in Otay Mesa just north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The sheriff’s office reports the man was found unresponsive and not breathing in a bathroom, and was pronounced dead at the scene despite life-saving measures by paramedics. Amazon released a statement to FOX 5/KUSI Tuesday evening, calling the man a colleague: “We’re deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague. Our thoughts are with their family and loved ones during this difficult time. We’re supporting our employees and cooperating fully with local law enforcement.” The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office will be determining the man’s cause and manner of death. He has not yet been identified by authorities. The sheriff’s department is investigating the death, however they did note there is no indication of foul play.
Dead body found in semi-truck at Pilot Truck Stop
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) – A body was found inside a company car at the Pilot Truck Stop in Grand Junction. On June 4th around 1:00 p.m., officers with the Grand Junction Police Department (GJPD) were called to the Pilot Truck Stop on Highway 6 & 50 for a welfare check. According to officials, dispatch received a call from someone who said they were not able to contact an employee. Officers located the company’s semi-truck in the Pilot Truck Stop parking lot and found a person dead in the sleeper cab of the semi. GJPD said that foul play is not suspected and did not see any apparent signs of suicide.
Chicago police officer Krystal Rivera — mom to young daughter — shot and killed while on duty
Chicago, IL — A 36-year-old police officer who was a mother to a young daughter and four-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department has been shot and killed while on duty in Chicago, police said. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker identified her as Krystal Rivera. The shooting occurred at approximately 9:50 p.m. Thursday when officers attempted to conduct an investigatory stop on a male suspect, according to the Chicago Police Department. Officers approached the suspect, but the individual immediately fled on foot into a nearby building, police said. Law enforcement subsequently pursued the suspect into the building but were confronted by another individual who was armed inside the residence where the suspect fled, authorities continued. “The armed offender fled the residence and was taken into custody,” police said. “An officer sustained a gunshot wound and was taken to an area hospital, where she succumbed to her injuries.” CPD confirms another officer unintentionally fired the shot that killed Officer Krystal Rivera Thursday night in Chatham as officers tried to stop someone who was believed to be armed. Meanwhile, Chicago’s top cop said the officer who shot and killed Officer Rivera is dealing with difficult emotions, and he’s urging the public not to draw conclusions about how Rivera died.
Hickory firefighter, 20, dies after medical emergency following overnight fire call
HICKORY, N.C. — Hickory firefighter Jake Bridges, 20, died Thursday morning after a medical emergency, Fire Chief Matt Hutchinson said on Friday. “We are working with our state partner agencies to gain a better understanding of this tragedy,” Hutchinson said. Hickory firefighters were dispatched to a structure fire at about 2 a.m. They fought the fire and extinguished it, clearing the scene shortly before 5 a.m. The firefighters got back to the station and at about 5:08 a.m. Bridges had a medical emergency and was taken to a local hospital where he died. “At just 20 years old, Jake demonstrated his passion for the firefighting profession and dedication to the community,” Hutchinson said. Bridges completed the Gaston College Fire Academy in 2022 and joined the Hickory Fire Department in June 2023 as a certified Level II Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician.
Ky. paramedic dies from injuries related to crash and busy shift
NELSON COUNTY, Ky. — Nelson County EMS is mourning the loss of one of its paramedics who died several days after being involved in a crash following a shift involving several emergency calls. Critical Care Paramedic Wesley England was injured in a vehicle crash on May 23, which is believed to have been caused by a heart attack, WDRB reported. According to the website Supporting Heroes, the heart attack occurred after a demanding shift in which England responded to multiple emergencies and was involved in a physical altercation with a patient at a detention facility. Following the crash, England was airlifted to a trauma center in Nashville, where he remained in the ICU in critical condition for several days, WLKY reported. England died on June 2 at 41 years old.
USPS confirms death of Palmetto facility employee
PALMETTO, Ga. — In response to inquiries from 11Alive, the United States Postal Service has confirmed the death of one of its employees at the mega mail facility in Palmetto. According to USPS, the postal worker was employed as an electronic technician at the Palmetto Regional Processing and Distribution Center, who worked with the Postal Service for 30 years. “The Postal Service is deeply saddened by the loss of our postal family member,” the Postal Service said in a statement. “Our sincere condolences and thoughts go out to his family, friends, and co-workers.” The Fulton County Medical Examiner identified the employee as 59-year-old Eric Smith.
Police name bar worker killed in Columbia shooting overnight
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Authorities have identified a man killed in an overnight shooting outside a Garners Ferry bar as an employee there. Columbia Police said 33-year-old Wendell F. Sholar was shot and killed following a dispute outside S. Bar and Grill, where he worked. The department said the shooting happened outside the bar at 7535 Garners Ferry Road and was reported just after midnight on Friday morning. The shooting followed an argument that turned into a fight. Police said the suspect, Bernard Jackson Jr., then pulled a gun and shot Sholar.
Maine biologist killed in helicopter crash
Alaska — Manomet Conservation Sciences has announced the passing of Dr. Shiloh Schulte, PhD, a biologist from Maine. Dr. Schulte, who was from Kennebunk, was killed in a helicopter crash while conducting conservation work in Alaska. Manomet said that Dr. Schulte was “someone who gave his life in the service of something greater than himself,” and that he dedicated himself to preserving the natural world for future generations.