How workers died last week: Fireworks explosion, flash flood, tanker explosion, electrocution, tree care, shootings, vehicle incidents. 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. Why We Write The Weekly Toll
Bodies of 7 victims found in wreckage of Northern California fireworks warehouse
Yolo County, CA — Rescue crews have recovered the bodies of seven victims reported missing after a fireworks warehouse exploded in Northern California last week, authorities said Sunday. Television news coverage showed several explosions at the pyrotechnics facility, which is in the rural Yolo County community of Esparto, about 30 miles northwest of Sacramento. The explosions followed a blaze at the warehouse, which is owned by an active pyrotechnics license holder, according to state fire officials. Seven people were reported missing after the explosion, which sparked a brush fire in the area. Video showed plumes of thick black smoke emanating from the warehouse, and helicopter video from KCRA-TV showed bright sparks shooting out of the burning structure, followed by a large explosion. In a statement, Yolo County officials said Sunday that they would not identify any of the deceased until their families had been formally notified. But last week, several media outlets reported that several of the victims appeared to be warehouse employees. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation by a host of agencies, including the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. A teenage father-to-be was among seven killed when a Northern California fireworks warehouse erupted in a terrifying explosion during his first shift there, according to his devastated girlfriend. Jesus Manaces Ramos, 18, was killed alongside two of his brothers, Jhony Ramos and Junior Melendez, when repeated explosions devastated the building where they were working Tuesday in Yolo County near Esparto, according to ABC10. The teen was on his first shift at the facility, working to prepare for the arrival of his first child, his pregnant girlfriend, Syanna Ruiz, told the outlet. A fourth individual was identified by family members to CBS Sacramento as Carlos Javier Rodriguez. Neil Li was the general manager of Devastating Pyrotechnics. The remaining two people were not yet identified.
Road crew worker, 23, fatally struck by excavator bucket in Brighton Township, police say
Brighton Township, MI — A 23-year-old, Ryan Starnes, of St. Clair Shores, was killed after being struck by an excavator on Monday, June 30, while working at a job site in Livingston County. The victim, from St. Clair Shores, was hit by the excavator bucket while working in an excavated hole in the area of Grand River near I-96 in Brighton Township, according to Michigan State Police. Troopers from the Brighton post responded to the scene around 3:15 p.m. “It appears the worker operating the excavator was not aware the victim was in the hole,” MSP First District said in a news release. When state troopers arrived, Brighton police were already providing medical aid, according to MSP. The victim, who had critical injuries, was taken to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, where he died.
Flash Floods in Texas Kill Close to 90 people
Kerrville, TX — Devastating flash floods near Kerrville, Texas has killed almost 90 people, including over two dozen young girls at a summer camp. The devastation along the Guadalupe River, outside of San Antonio, has drawn a massive search effort as officials face questions over their preparedness and the speed of their initial actions. Among those employees who died while working when the flood hit were Jane Ragsdale, 68, co-owner of the Heart O’the Hills Camp, a summer camp for girls in Texas Hill Country and Chloe Childress, a counselor at Camp Mystic, was set to attend the University of Texas at Austin in the fall. Dick Eastland, who served as the longtime director of Camp Mystic with his wife, died trying to save the lives of his campers, according to public officials. Many other victims have yet to be identified.
Worker Killed in Tanker Explosion Accident off Perry Lane in Winkler County, TX
Winkler County, TX — June 28, 2025, a worker was killed as the result of a tanker explosion accident at around 12:42 p.m. along Perry Lane. Authorities say the incident took place just off the corner of Perry Lane and Highway 302, just southwest of Kermit. According to officials, a 59-year-old Odessa man was using a grinder on top of a commercial tanker at the time. The victim has been identified as 59-year-old Nicolay Santiesteban of Odessa. While doing so, an explosion sparked, ultimately inflicting fatal injuries to the worker. There did not appear to be anyone else injured in the accident. Investigations into the accident are currently ongoing.
Man dies after accident at Tuscaloosa’s BFGoodrich Manufacturing Plant
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WBRC) – An employee at BFGoodrich Manufacturing Plant in Tuscaloosa has died following an accident June 22. The employee was exposed to high voltage electricity and suffered severe injuries, according to authorities. No criminal act is suspected at this time. The Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit was notified and are working with the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences Medical Examiner and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). VCU’s involvement is in conducting a preliminary investigation alongside the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences. The investigations into any related work conditions will be conducted by OSHA.
Construction worker killed after being hit by cement truck in Detroit
DETROIT, MI — Detroit police say a construction worker was killed at 60 Harper Avenue on Wednesday morning after he was hit by a cement truck. Police say the driver of a cement truck was backing up when they accidentally struck the worker, pinning him against a pole. The construction worker was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. We’re told the victim was in his 40s. Police report that the incident appeared to be accidental. No additional information has been released at this time. On Monday, a construction worker in Brighton was killed after he was hit by an excavator.
Police identify man who died after being struck by falling tree limb in Somers
Somers, NY — New York State Police have identified the man who died after being struck by a falling tree limb while doing tree work at a Somers home as Jonathan Chavez Jaramillo, 31, of Ossining. Preliminary investigation found the homeowner contracted a landscaping service to do tree work on the property, a news release said. On Monday, June 23, during removal of the tree, Chavez Jaramillo, a member of the landscaping crew, was struck by the falling limb. At 4:03 p.m. on Monday, state police responded to a report of an unresponsive male at a home. Somers Fire Department emergency services personnel began life-saving measures. Chavez Jaramillo was taken to medical facility, where he later succumbed to injuries, according to the police. Officials said the investigation is ongoing.
Man killed in Gig Harbor-area truck accident identified by medical examiner
Gig Harbor, WA — A worker who died after a truck rolled over him in the Canterwood area north of Gig Harbor has been identified, according to a news release from the Pierce County Medical Examiner’s Office. Robert Whitlock, 65, of Parkland was working for a homeowner near Canterwood Drive Northwest and Muir Drive Northwest on June 27 when his work truck rolled down the driveway, running him over. The man died at the scene from his injuries, a Sheriff’s Office release said. Sheriff’s office spokesperson deputy Carly Cappetto told The News Tribune there might have been an issue with the truck’s parking brake. The Medical Examiner’s Office release said Whitlock’s cause of death was blunt torso trauma and listed his manner of death an accident.
Construction worker hit and killed on westbound 91 Freeway in Buena Park
Buena Park, CA — A construction worker was struck and killed on the 91 Freeway in the Buena Park area Friday morning, officials confirmed. The incident happened just before 4 a.m. in westbound lanes near Beach Boulevard, according to the California Highway Patrol. The worker, who was not a Caltrans employee, was in one of the lanes when a pickup truck hit them. Authorities said nobody has been taken into custody.
Milwaukee police officer dies; MPD staffing shortage concerns
Milwaukee, WI — For the first time in more than two years, a Milwaukee police officer has died in the line of duty. Officer Kendall Corder was shot on Thursday night. Corder and fellow officer Christopher McCray were shot and wounded near 25th and Garfield on Thursday, June 26. MPD said the suspect, later identified as 22-year-old Tremaine Jones, was taken into custody early Friday morning. Police say the gunman “ambushed” the officers, with gunfire hitting both.McCray was released from the hospital on Saturday, but Corder did not survive. Both officers served in District 2. But they were responding to a call in District 3.
Federal inmate’s escape attempt leaves one deputy dead, another injured in North Carolina
CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. — Authorities have released new information after a detention deputy died during an inmate’s escape attempt in North Carolina. According to Cherokee County Sheriff Dustin Smith, on Monday afternoon, two detention officers escorted a federal inmate to Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital just outside of Murphy for an orthopedic doctor’s appointment. While in the medical facility, the inmate, 48-year-old Kelvin Simmons, got into a scuffle with the detention officers and managed to take one of the detention officer’s weapons and shoot detention officer 56-year-old Francisco Paul Flattes. The hospital later confirmed Flattes died from his injuries.
South Carolina Deputy Shot and Killed in What Sheriff Says Was an Ambush
LAMAR, S.C. (AP) — A deputy trying to arrest a suspect in a South Carolina home was ambushed, shot and killed early Tuesday while a second officer was wounded, authorities said. The suspect in the shooting was also shot and killed, investigators said. Deputy Devin Mason and the second officer were inside a home near Lamar around 1:30 a.m. when they were attacked, the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement, without providing additional details. Mason died, while the second officer, whose name was not immediately released, was in the hospital in stable condition, authorities said. Cameron Ray Dennett, 25, also was killed in the shooting. He was wanted for criminal conspiracy, forgery and a computer crime and was not allowed to have a gun, deputies said. A 28-year-old woman facing similar charges was taken into custody and was not hurt, investigators said, Mason, 27, graduated from the state’s criminal justice academy three months ago and had just finished field training last week, Darlington County Sheriff Michael August said in a statement.
St. Louis City firefighter dies in line of duty
ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) – A St. Louis City firefighter suffered a medical emergency and died in the line of duty, the fire department announced Tuesday. Fire officials said Lee Kraus, a 27-year veteran of the St. Louis Fire Department, suffered a medical emergency while on duty Sunday. The St. Louis Fire Department Chief said that everything appeared normal at work on Sunday when Kraus went into cardiac arrest. The 52-year-old passed away on Tuesday. Kraus loved the outdoors and traveling. His fellow firefighters said he was in good shape, but the chief acknowledged that being a firefighter can be very hard on the body. “It’s a tough job, a brutal job, the heat, the cold, the movements you guys can imagine you’re in the middle of sleep all cuddled up and all of a sudden you’re climbing two flights of steps to get to someone on the third floor, that takes a toll on your body,” explained Chief Dennis Jenkerson.
Huntsville Public Works employee killed in Marshall County wreck
MARSHALL COUNTY, Ala. (WAFF) – A Huntsville Public Works employee was killed and two others were injured in a wreck on U.S. 231 Tuesday. The Marshall County Coroner confirmed the fatality to a WAFF 48 reporter on the scene. Hank Hornbuckle of New Hope was identified by the Coroner as the person killed in the crash. Hornbuckle, 44, served as a Huntsville public works employee and was a candidate for the New Hope City Council, according to Mayor Roger Walling. “I knew it instantly, I would do anything for the guy (Hornbuckle),” New Hope resident Brian Carpenter said. “He’s the type of guy that would do anything for you. And it’s just this whole community is going to be devastated.” Walling also said city councilman Donnie Dowdy was injured in the crash. “Donny is like the life of the party,” Dowdy’s family pastor, Shane Baker, said. “Great guy, do anything for you. It was just kind of a shock. We have two wonderful New Hopians. Pray for them as they process what they’re going through.” Huntsville City Council member Bill Kling said Public Works Director Chris McNeese was also injured in the wreck. Only one vehicle was involved, a white truck that flipped over in a ditch on the southbound side of 231.
CHP officer who died after on-duty crash in Culver City may have suffered medical emergency
CULVER CITY, Calif. (KABC) — A California Highway Patrol officer who died after he was involved in an overnight crash in Culver City may have suffered some sort of medical emergency, authorities said Wednesday. The crash happened just after 12:30 a.m. at Bristol Parkway and Green Valley Circle. During a morning press conference, CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee identified the officer as 34-year-old Miguel Cano, who was assigned to CHP’s West Los Angeles office and was working when the crash occurred. Duryee said Cano and his partner had just made an arrest and were in the process of transporting the suspect when Cano told his partner he wasn’t feeling well. “His partner acknowledged that he did not look well and shortly after, [Cano] lost consciousness,” said Duryee. “His vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a tree. We believe he had some sort of medical emergency.” A California Highway Patrol officer died after he was involved in a crash in Culver City, authorities said. Cano was transported to UCLA Medical Center and was pronounced dead shortly after at 1:30 a.m.
Hollywood 7-Eleven worker allegedly attacked by her manager dies after taken off life support
HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CA — A 7-Eleven worker who was allegedly attacked by her manager has died. The family of Jessica McLaughlin made the difficult decision to take her off life support after doctors declared her brain dead. The alleged attacker is still on the loose, but homicide detectives took over the case on Wednesday and are reviewing video evidence. The Los Angeles Police Department says she was attacked on June 24 around 2:15 p.m. at the Hollywood 7-Eleven located in the 5700 block of Melrose Avenue. According to LAPD, the two women became involved in a verbal argument inside the store that escalated into a physical fight. Jessica’s brother says the manager sat on top of her and didn’t let her breathe.
Truck driver killed in single-vehicle crash Tuesday in Ford County
BUCKLIN, Kan. (WIBW) – A truck driver was killed Tuesday afternoon in a single-vehicle crash in Ford County in southwest Kansas, authorities said. The crash was reported on US-54 highway about a mile west of Bucklin. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 2021 Freightliner semitrailer was westbound on US-54 when it crossed the centerline and exited the eastbound lane, continuing into the ditch. A truck driver from California was killed Tuesday afternoon in a single-vehicle crash on US-54 highway in Ford County in southwest Kansas, authorities said. The tractor and trailer turned over on the driver’s side and skidded before coming to rest facing northwest. The driver, Mahipal Singh, 35, of Buena Park, Calif., was pronounced dead at the scene. The patrol said Singh, who was alone in the semi, wasn’t wearing a seat belt.
Anger after tow-truck driver killed on the job while helping driver on NJ highway
HARDING, NJ — A tow truck operator was killed Wednesday as he helped a driver with their broken down vehicle along the shoulder of Route 287. The death sparked outrage by coworkers, who hoped the preventable loss will bring more attention to a roadway safety law. State Police Sgt. Jeffrey LeBron said the tow truck was with a disabled Honda on the southbound right shoulder near Exit 31 (Route 124). A Jeep SUV then came down the shoulder and struck both vehicles and the tow truck operator, Daniel Ortiz, 24, of Hopatcong. Ortiz died at the hospital. The driver of the Jeep suffered minor injuries. LeBron did not disclose the identity of the Jeep driver or whether he would be charged with any offenses. Ortiz, nicknamed DJ, worked for Ron & Sons Towing which took to Facebook to express both its anger over a violation of New Jersey’s Move Over Law and the loss of a dedicated tower. “DJ at just the age of 24 was one of our drivers, one of our brothers who was killed on the side of 287 because someone couldn’t be bothered to slow down or move over,” the company said on its Facebook page. “He was out there doing his job. Helping someone in need. Standing on the shoulder with his lights flashing, clearly visible, clearly working and someone’s complete negligence and lack of attention ended his life in an instant.”
Northshore community mourns Cleco lineman who died in the line of duty
SLIDELL, La. — The Slidell community is mourning the loss of a lineman who died in the line of duty this week. Wade Singletary reportedly died while working in his role as a lineman for Cleco. While the circumstances surrounding Singletary’s death remain unknown, Fandal highlighted the vital role linemen play in the community in his tribute post to Singletary. “As police officers, we routinely work alongside these brave men, who play a crucial role in our community. They are often the first to respond during natural disasters, working tirelessly in hazardous conditions to bring communities back online,” Fandal said in his post. “Wade was well known in our local area and very much respected. May he rest in peace and his family and friends find comfort during this difficult time.” WDSU reached out to Cleco for a statement regarding the circumstances surrounding Singletary’s death. Cleco issued the following statement: “Our focus is on supporting the family of our colleague and our team, right now. We ask for privacy and compassion as we grieve this loss together.” The St. Tammany Coroner’s Office confirmed that an autopsy will be conducted Monday to determine Singletary’s cause of death.
Semi-truck driver killed after illegal maneuver causes crash on I-70 in Grand County
CRESCENT JUNCTION, Utah (KUTV) — A semi-truck driver was killed Sunday night after another truck made an illegal maneuver across a restricted area on I-70, causing a collision near Crescent Junction. According to the Utah Department of Transportation, the crash happened around 8:15 p.m. on July 6 near milepost 181. Two semi-trucks, both hauling trailers, were traveling eastbound on I-70 when the driver of a 2024 Freightliner exited at a scenic overlook. The driver then attempted to re-enter I-70 eastbound by cutting across the gore area — an off-limits section of roadway between the highway and the exit ramp. As the 2024 Freightliner re-entered the highway, a 2015 Freightliner rear-ended its trailer. The driver of the 2015 Freightliner died on impact, authorities said.
NH city mourns popular restaurant worker killed in murder-suicide
Berlin, NH — A New Hampshire city is mourning the loss of a popular employee at a local restaurant who was killed in an apparent murder-suicide on Sunday morning. Police were first called to La Casita restaurant on Hillside Avenue in Berlin around 9:45 a.m. Sunday for a report of gunshots, according to the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office. When they arrived, they found an employee, identified as 25-year-old Sandra Marisol Fuentes Huaracha, dead behind the bar from apparent gunshot wounds. Later, investigators found 50-year-old Michael Gleason, Jr. in a bathroom, dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support. Fuentes Huaracha and Gleason had been in a relationship, investigators said. While the case is ongoing, investigators believe it is likely a murder-suicide, with no further threat to the public.
Lewis Adventure Farm owner hit, killed in parking lot by employee
SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A co-owner of the Lewis Adventure Farm and Zoo was hit by an employee and killed in the parking lot of the business on Friday, deputies say. Around 7:45 a.m., deputies with the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office were sent to the Lewis Adventure Farm and Zoo after receiving a report that a person had been hit by a vehicle and was stuck underneath it. Responding deputies learned that business co-owner Cindy Lewis, 56, had been hit by a vehicle driven by a 61-year-old New Era woman, who worked at the business. Lewis had already been removed from underneath the vehicle by the time deputies arrived. She was taken to the hospital, where she died on Sunday. The sheriff’s office said it appears that the driver did not see Lewis as she was entering the parking lot. Deputies do not believe that alcohol or drugs were involved. The investigation will be turned over to the Oceana County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for their review, the sheriff’s office said.