How workers died over the past couple of weeks: three dead in trench collapses, heat, electrocution, machinery, firefighting, forklift, falls, grain elevator suffocation, wood dust explosion, dog attack, vehicle incidents, shootings, confined space, drowning. 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
Man buried alive in trench as his co-workers try to dig him out
Goodyear, AZ — A construction worker died after he was buried alive in a 6-foot trench in Arizona, fire officials and news outlets reported. Rescuers were called at about 1:10 p.m. Monday, July 28, to a construction site, the Goodyear Fire Department said in a news release. Other workers rushed to the hole where the man was buried “under a large amount of dirt” and tried to get him out, fire officials said. Another rescue team joined efforts and tried to retrieve the man, but the trench continued to collapse on top of him, firefighters said. Rescuers paused their efforts after 30 minutes to come up with a “more methodical recovery approach,” fire officials said. His body was recovered from the hole at about 2 a.m. July 29, about 13 hours after he was first buried, officials said. It was 111 degrees in Goodyear on July 28, according to AccuWeather. The Goodyear Police Department identified the worker as 44-year-old Ronald Andrew Baquero Jr., KNXV-TV reported.
Missing worker found dead after trench collapse in Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City, KS — Authorities say the worker involved in a trench collapse in Kansas City, Kansas, Thursday afternoon has been found dead. A search and rescue operation was after a trench collapsed Thursday afternoon at a fiber optic installation site around 2:15 p.m. to 16th Street and Metropolitan Avenue. Coworkers became concerned when they noticed an excavator at the site had stopped moving and the operator was nowhere to be seen. When they checked the trench, workers found that it had collapsed. Kansas City, Kansas, fire crews said the trench was 16 to 18 feet wide and as deep as 25 feet in some areas. That search and rescue operation continued through heavy rain into the late night hours. An official with KCKFD said the worker was found deceased around 11:45 p.m. The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department identified him as Francisco Rodriguez, 54, of KCK.
Worker dies after getting trapped in trench at Baltimore County construction site
Baltimore, MD — A construction worker died Tuesday after a trench he was working in partially collapsed in Baltimore County, according to fire and police officials. Crews responded around 8:30 a.m. to a call for a confined space rescue in the 9800 block of Lyons Mills Road in Owings Mills, where a new elementary school was being constructed. Once on the scene, officials determined that 50-year-old Luis Medrano was in the trench digging a hole when water began to fill the area. The trench began to partially collapse, dropping a large amount of dirt on Medrano, police said. Medrano was pronounced dead after being extracted from the trench. Officials from Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) also responded to the scene. A similar trench incident in Catonsville left two construction workers dead in February.
Man falls into grain elevator; gets entrapped in corn, dies
HEREFORD, Texas (KVII) — An employee died after he fell into a grain elevator and got entrapped in corn. Fire Marshal Todd Murray said 58-year-old German Alvarez Rios fell around 9:30 a.m. The grain elevator is located in the 100 block of South Main Street. The Hereford Police Department, Hereford Fire Department, Hereford EMS, Deaf Smith County Sheriff’s Office, and other City of Hereford departments responded. Despite efforts to rescue Rios, he died at the scene. His body was recovered from the elevator at approximately 12:30 p.m.
Nebraska plant explosion killed 2 girls and an employee
FREMONT, Neb. — Two girls and an adult missing since a huge explosion tore through a Nebraska biofuels plant are confirmed dead, officials said Wednesday, as firefighters were still battling smoke and flames smoldering in the wreckage nearly a day later. At a news conference, Spellerberg said the two children were waiting for an employee to get off work at Horizon Biofuels so they could go to a doctor’s appointment. He wasn’t sure of their exact ages but said both were under age 12. The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office confirmed in a Wednesday night news release that 32-year-old Dylan D. Danielson of Columbus, Neb., was killed in the explosion. His body was recovered at the site around noon Wednesday — about 24 hours after the explosion. According to the latest update, authorities will not be providing the names of Danielson’s daughters, whose bodies were located as recovery efforts continued into the evening. The blast at around noon Tuesday shredded the top of the plant’s tall tower, exposing mangled concrete and rebar, while the metal walls and roof of the building below were crumpled and charred. Spellerberg said crews were evaluating whether the whole facility might collapse. The plant makes animal bedding and wood pellets for heating and smoking food, using tons of wood waste, and Fremont Fire Chief Todd Bernt has said they believe the facility stores wood and some alcohol-based materials. A 2014 fire at the building had damaged the electrical system but left the structure intact, according to reporting by the Fremont Tribune. The mayor said he and investigators strongly suspect the blast was caused by wood dust in the elevator portion of the plant. “That’s really the only thing that makes sense,” Spellerberg said.
Scott City employee dies while on the job
WICHITA, Kan. — A City of Scott City employee died in a workplace accident on July 18. Chase Cupp, 25, was a public works employee with the City. Cupp was found dead by another employee at the city’s water tower, according to the city’s Mayor, Everett Green. Cupp started working for the City while he was in high school and continued as a full-time employee after graduating. The City said he had worked during the summers as a teenager.
City of Sweetwater employee killed while responding to water leak
SWEETWATER, Texas – A City of Sweetwater employee was killed while responding to a water leak Tuesday evening. Robert Saucedo, 23, suffered what is described only as a “fatal injury” while making repairs to the leak on the 1000 block of E 13th Street. He was pronounced deceased at the hospital. Saucedo had been with the City of Sweetwater’s Water Distribution Department since October 2024 and was working toward furthering his career.
Alexandria city employee killed in crash
ALEXANDRIA, La. – A city employee was killed in a single-vehicle crash, according to the Alexandria Police Department. APD said Levi Phillips, 58, was driving in the 400 block of Chester Street on July 24 around 3:30 p.m., on duty as an employee of the City of Alexandria Street Department, when the crash happened. Phillips was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Oakland Co. road worker killed, 2 others hurt after being hit by vehicle
Oakland County, MI — One road worker was killed and two others seriously hurt when they were struck by a vehicle traveling the wrong way in a work zone, Wednesday morning in Farmington Hills. “We are extremely saddened by the loss of one on our family members, and the injury of two others,” Dennis Kolar, managing director of the Road Commission for Oakland County, said in a statement. “Right now, our top priority is supporting these employees’ families. We also are seeking to help our other staff, and we will have professionals on site tomorrow to assist anyone struggling with this situation.” The crash happened at about 11:10 a.m. along Orchard Lake Road, just south of 11 Mile Road in Farmington Hills, according to the Road Commission. A crew was repairing a drainage basin in the northbound lanes of Orchard Lake Road when a southbound vehicle crossed the median and struck the workers. Family members identified the deceased worker as Cedric Lanier Jones. His age and hometown weren’t immediately available.
Arizona HVAC worker dies after collapsing in extreme heat
Dewey, AZ — An Arizona HVAC technician, Matt Nelson, 58, died from heat exposure after working in a Dewey attic that reached 150 degrees on July 1. Nelson’s family is sharing his story to raise awareness about the dangers of working in extreme heat and urging others to prioritize heat safety. Arizona’s triple-digit heat can be deadly for air conditioning workers, a reality tragically underscored by the recent death of an HVAC technician after working in an attic where temperatures reached 150 degrees. The man’s family is now sharing his story to raise awareness about heat safety. Nelson, 58, an HVAC technician for decades and an Army veteran, started his own HVAC company within the last year. On July 1, he responded to an air conditioner service call at a home in Dewey.”It was hot. It was hot. And he had been in an attic. And the attic temperatures had reached 150,” said Courtney McKnight, Nelson’s niece. McKnight said shortly after Nelson exited the attic, he collapsed. “They were on the side of the house. And his partner said, ‘I’m going to go get some drinks.’ Walked around the corner of the house. When he came back, Matt was on the ground unresponsive,” she said. Nelson was rushed to the hospital but did not survive.
Mid America Steel employee dies after workplace incident in north Fargo
FARGO, ND — A Mid America Steel employee has died after a workplace incident Thursday, July 24, in north Fargo. According to a release from the Fargo Police Department, officers were called to the industrial park in the 5100 block of 19th Avenue North around 9:36 a.m. Thursday for a report of a workplace injury. Mid America Steel operates at 5101 19th Ave. N. When officers arrived, they were told an employee was “seriously injured in a workplace-related incident,” the release said. The individual was taken by ambulance to a local hospital and died as a result of their injuries despite lifesaving efforts, police said. Tuah Kollie, 42, of West Fargo, died as a result of injuries he received while working in the 5100 block of 19th Avenue North, the Fargo Police Department said Friday, July 25, in a news release.
Cintas employee dies after becoming trapped in ‘piece of machinery’ in Guilford County
Greensboro, NC — A man has died after a workplace incident, according to officials with the High Point Police Department. On Wednesday, officers said they responded to the 4300 block of Federal Drive after reports of an industrial accident. According to the incident report, a Cintas employee-partner, identified as Jasbeer Singh, 59, had become trapped in a piece of machinery. Officials said Singh was pronounced dead by Guilford County EMS.
1 killed, 3 burned in explosion at Panhandle Milling
AMARILLO, Texas (KVII) — One person was killed, a three burned, during an explosion at Panhandle Milling in Dawn. About 3:30 a.m., the Hereford Fire Department and Hereford EMS were requested to respond to the plant located in the 4800 block of FM 809 for an industrial accident involving a building explosion. According to Hereford Fire Marshal Todd Murray, one building was found to be partially collapsed. Additional resources were requested from the Hereford Police Department, Deaf Smith County Sheriff’s office, Dawn Fire Department, Dimmitt EMS, TDEM, BSA, AMR, and Amarillo Fire Department.A fourth victim — 36-year-old Melissa Mungia — was found in the collapsed building about 6 a.m. Her body was extricated by Amarillo Fire Department at approximately 7:30 am. She leaves behind three daughters.
Amalio Lombardi Killed in Beacon Construction Accident
Beacon, NY — A construction worker was killed after being struck by heavy machinery during an infrastructure project in the Hudson Valley. Emergency crews in Dutchess County responded to Fishkill Avenue and Conklin Street in Beacon for a report of an accident on Monday, July 28, according to the Beacon Police Department. They arrived to find that Amalio Lombardi, 61, had been struck by an excavator while on the job. Lombardi, of Goshen, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Accident at construction site results in one dead
ITHACA, N.Y. (WBNG) — On July 21, the Ithaca Police Department and Bangs Ambulance were dispatched to an active construction site for a report of a traumatic injury. The subject received medical care at the scene before being transported to the Cayuga Medical Center. While in the hospital, the subject succumbed to the injury. At this time, preliminary information indicates that the injury was caused by an accident.
Firefighter dies in line of duty at Plainville house fire
PLAINVILLE, CT (WFSB) – A community has been mourning the death of a volunteer firefighter who was killed Sunday morning during a house fire response in Plainville. Raymond ‘Ray’ Moreau, age 60, died from being struck by a piece of fire apparatus as he worked at the scene of a fire on Maria Road around 6:30 a.m. Moreau was killed in the line of duty in Plainville on Sunday. Moreau was killed in the line of duty in Plainville on Sunday. “A piece of the firetruck broke free of the apparatus and struck firefighter Moreau, causing catastrophic injuries to his leg,” said Capt. Kate Coney, Connecticut State Police. Authorities could not confirm what part of the truck caused the deadly injury. Moreau was rushed to the hospital where he later died in surgery. Officials said he served the Plainville Fire Department for 35 years as a volunteer. He was also a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
Investigation underway into worker’s death at Golden Pass LNG
Port Arthur, TX — A worker has died in an industrial accident at Golden Pass LNG, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Crystal Holmes tells KFDM/Fox 4 News. Justice of the Peace Ben Collins Sr. says Pedro Campbell Romero, 50, died at about 3:30 p.m. Sunday. The judge has ordered an autopsy. Collins said the man was not from this area. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation into the accident, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will also be involved. In April, three contract workers died in an industrial accident at Port Arthur LNG.
LG Energy Solution contract employee dies, company confirms
HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD) — A contract employee at the LG Energy Solution plant in Holland died Sunday, the company confirmed to News 8. Shortly after 5 p.m., the Holland Department of Public Safety was called to a “workplace accident” at the facility off of 146th Avenue east of 54th Street. Arriving first responders found the body of the victim partially stuck in a machine, according to police. “Due to the injuries, the victim was clearly deceased,” Holland police said. HDPS identified the worker as Kim Jung Won of Korea, a contract employee who was there working on the machinery’s automation. The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration said he worked for LG Electronics DBA Production Engineering Research Institute out of South Korea. Won was installing and setting up a machine at the plant when the machine activated. Investigators believe he got caught between the frame and the lifting mechanism and was crushed.
Cape Cod man who died after coming into contact with electrical wires identified
Cape Cod, MA — A Cape Cod man who died after coming into contact with electrical wires in Barnstable Sunday evening has been identified as 31-year-old Hyannis resident Jermaine Whitmore, the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office said Thursday. Officers responded to a home on Hamden Circle in Hyannis for a report of “an industrial accident” around 5:15 p.m., Barnstable police said previously. At the scene, they discovered that Whitmore and another person had been injured after coming into contact with electrical wires. Whitmore was flown to a Boston hospital, and the other person was taken to Cape Cod Hospital, police said. Whitmore ultimately died of his injuries.
Person dies after suffering medical emergency in underground gasoline storage tank in Palm Beach County
PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — One person has died after after suffering medical emergency in an underground gasoline storage tank Friday morning, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said. The incident happened at around 7:35 a.m. on the 4500 block of Hypoluxo Road at the intersection of Military Trail. PBCFR said workers were performing maintenance on an underground gasoline storage tank when a person suffered a medical emergency about 15 feet underground in a “very confined space.” A total of 17 units with 36 fire-rescue personnel came to the scene to remove the individual. Fire rescue said firefighters in protective gear and their self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) went underground and provided medical aid to the person. They used a rope rescue system to remove the person from the underground tank area. Fire rescue said they continued to treat the person and immediately transported the individual to a local hospital, where that person died.
Man, 25, dies after falling into tanker trailer he was cleaning
Stearns, MN — A man has died after falling into a tanker-trailer he was cleaning in Stearns County on Tuesday. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office says it received a “medical incident” call at around 9:45 a.m. after a 25-year-old man fell into a 42-foot tanker trailer at a property in Eden Lake Township and was “unresponsive.” The man was found inside a trailer that was used for DAF water (Dissolved air flotation – a wastewater treatment process). The trailer had 1.5 feet of water inside at the time. The man, identified as Elder Gonzalez, of Eden Valley, had been cleaning the trailer with a hose prior to his apparent fall. He was pulled from the trailer and lifesaving measures were attempted, but he was later pronounced dead at Paynesville Hospital.
18-year-old killed in accident at Oregon City construction site
Oregon City, OR — A recent graduate of West Linn High School was killed Wednesday morning in a workplace accident at an Oregon City construction site, according to the victim’s family. Lucas Gray, 18, was hit by a forklift and died at the scene, his mother, Catherine Gray, said. “It’s a mother’s worst fear,” Catherine Gray said. “He was a leader in the community, a wrestler [on the school team], a Christian, a great man and just a super light, wonderful child.” Lucas Gray, who had graduated from high school in June, only had two days left on the job, his mother said. He planned to attend the University of Utah.
Stillwater Mine employee killed in ‘electrical incident’ over the weekend
COLUMBUS, Mont. — The Stillwater County Sheriff’s Office released some more information on an accident at the Stillwater Mine over the weekend. According to the sheriff’s office, they were notified of an accident that killed an employee just before noon on July 26. A coroner’s investigation found that the victim, 50-year-old Brian Hanson of Laurel, died from electrocution. An official with Sibanye Stillwater tells NonStop Local the employee was fatally injured in an electrical incident on Saturday, July 26. This is the fourth death in four years at the mine. In 2023, 24 year-old miner Noah Dinger was killed after being entangled in a rotating drill steel while changing the steel. In 2021, mine supervisors Dale G. Ketola, 65, and Jerry W. Ashlock, 55 were both killed when a 20-ton underground locomotive hit their personal carrier.
Investigators identify man who died while working on roof of Ashland Rural King
ASHLAND, Ky. (WCHS) — A man who died in a work-related incident at the Camp Landing shopping center in Boyd County Friday has been identified. Jesse Graham, 43, of Georgetown died on the roof of an Ashland Rural King while working on heating and air conditioning units, according to a news release the Boyd County Coroner’s Office. The news release said Graham was employed by Titan Heating and Air. The death is under investigation by the Kentucky Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the coroner’s office.
Elizabeth Truck Driver Killed in NJT Crash In Edison
Edsison, NJ — A 26-year-old Elizabeth man was killed in a crash on the New Jersey Turnpike in Edison early Sunday morning, July 20, authorities said. Mairon Gonzalez-Ramirez was driving a Freightliner M2 north on the New Jersey Turnpike in Edison when he lost control, overturned and struck a guardrail, Charles Marchan, a spokesman for the New Jersey State Police said. Gonzalez-Ramirez was pronounced dead at the scene, Marchan said. The crash remains under investigation, Marchan said.
Newly sworn-in detention officer dies hours into their first day on the job
WHITEVILLE, N.C. – A recruit with the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office died unexpectedly just two hours into their first day on the job. Two hours into their first day, one of the new detention officers suffered a “sudden and severe medical emergency.” Lifesaving measures were performed while staff waited for emergency medical services, who then took the officer to Columbus Regional Medical Center. Despite the efforts, the officer was pronounced dead. Aaron O’Neal Shipman Jr., 25, “succumbed to a sudden illness” Monday, July 21, according to an S&L Funeral Home obituary.
Construction worker dead after being electrocuted at Walmart distribution center in Grove City
GROVE CITY, Ohio — A man is dead after he was electrocuted while doing construction work at the Walmart distribution center in Grove City on Thursday. According to a report from the Grove City Division of Police, officers were called to the distribution center, located at 3880 Southwest Blvd., around 9:40 a.m. on a report of a construction accident. Police say the victim, identified as 35-year-old Victor Ortiz Pegueros, was working on the lighting in the ceiling of the new bathrooms. While working, Pegueros reportedly touched an exposed wire, electrocuting himself. Another worker who was in the ceiling at the same time grabbed Pegueros by his pants to pull him away from the wire, the report states. Pegueros was transported to Mount Carmel Grove City, where he was pronounced dead. It is unknown whether there was a wire nut on the wire at the time or if it came off when he touched it.
Worker Dies When Propane tank catches fire while being filled
WEXFORD COUNTY, MI – A propane tank caught fire while it was being filled June 13 in Northern Michigan, officials said. The man who was filling the tank sustained second- and third-degree burns, according to a news release from the Wexford County Sheriff’s Office. He was airlifted to a hospital in Grand Rapids for treatment. The employer was notified on July 28 that the worker had died,” Michigan OSHA said.
Worker killed at Fresno County quarry after excavator overturns
FRESNO COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – One person is dead after he was pinned inside an excavator in Fresno County on Tuesday. Officials say the excavator overturned against a boulder, pinning the man inside. He was identified as a Los Banos father of four on Wednesday. At around 8 a.m., deputies responded to the Academy Quarry located on Tollhouse Road for an injured person. Deputies arrived to find the excavator operator pinned against a rock after a piece of the equipment had rolled over, trapping him between a boulder and an excavator. Officials say that the excavator had been loading rock into a dump truck, and it overturned during the operation. They say that the cab of the excavator landed on the boulder, pinning the worker inside. Officials say the injuries the man suffered were from the equipment overturning and coming into contact with the boulder. Firefighters eventually freed the man, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner’s office identified the worker as 35-year-old Jonathan Swarthout of Los Banos, a father of four and a husband.
15-year-old camp counselor disappears and drowns in lake,
Muskegon County, MI — A 15-year-old Scouting America counselor drowned at a Michigan camp, officials say. The teen disappeared from the Owasippe Scout Reservation in Muskegon County around 3 p.m. July 16, according to WZZM and WOOD. Authorities told the publications the 15-year-old was found dead in Big Blue Lake. It’s unclear how the teen ended up in the lake. Owasippe Scout Reservation is operated by Scouting America, formerly the Boy Scouts of America. In a statement, the organization said the teen, who was a Counselor in Training, appeared to have drowned.
Accident on I-30W in Hope, AR
Hope, AR — July 21, 2025, a Department of Transportation worker was killed as the result of a hit-and-run accident around 1:15 a.m. on I-30W. Authorities said in preliminary statements that the accident happened in the area of mile marker 18 along the interstate. It appears that a contractor was working for Arkansas DOT at the time, putting out reflectors on the roadway. While doing so, authorities say a Buick Century struck and killed the worker. The Buick driver then fled the scene on foot.
Manning man dies in logging truck collision near Turbeville
Turbeville, SC — A Manning man was killed Monday morning in a collision involving a logging truck and an SUV on U.S. Highway 378 west of Turbeville, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Florence County Coroner’s Office. The crash occurred around 7:03 a.m. on July 21 near the intersection of U.S. 378 (Turbeville Hwy) and Park Avenue, approximately eight miles west of Turbeville. Lance Cpl. David Jones with Highway Patrol said a 2015 Peterbilt tractor-trailer was traveling west on U.S. 378 when a 2010 Volvo SUV traveling north on Park Avenue attempted to turn onto the highway. The two vehicles collided, causing the truck to run off the right side of the road into a ditch.Florence County Coroner Keith von Lutcken said the truck, which was loaded with logs, veered into a wooded area and struck trees as the driver tried to avoid the SUV. The driver, identified as 59-year-old Calvin Hilton of the Manning area, died at the scene.
Family and friends remember Middletown man killed while repairing car
MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — Simon Stopka from Middletown was a tree trimmer, but he was also known for being able to fix almost anything. Always reliable, he consistently made himself available to help family, friends, and neighbors with whatever they needed. Stopka recently started a tree trimming business, but Monday morning, he went to a side job to repair a car in Portland. He had the car on a lift, but it came crashing down on top of his chest. “The car got loose and it smashed him,” David Stopka, his brother, said. “The car came off the jack and smashed his chest.” An ambulance raced Stopka to Hartford Hospital, but he was pronounced dead 10 minutes after arriving. Stopka has just started a tree trimming business, and his wife was a nurse before staying home to care for their 3- and 2-year-old daughters.
Van Dyne, WI, Firefighter Succumbs Following Injury at Station
Van Dyne, WI — Firefighters in Van Dyne are mourning the loss of a dedicated colleague. Firefighter/Safety Officer Amie Lee, 61, was working in the fire station on July 1 when she fell and suffered a serious knee injury. On July 14, she experienced trouble breathing at her home. She was treated and transported to a hospital where she died, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. A pulmonary embolism related to her knee injury is believed to be a factor in her death. She had been involved with the department for 13 years. Her death brings to 47 the number of firefighters who have died on duty this year.
EHT worker runover in fatal Atlantic City Expressway accident
Egg Harbor Township, NJ — An Egg Harbor Township man was killed in a work-related accident Friday morning along the eastbound side of the Atlantic City Expressway, authorities said. Dominick Tarsitano, 31, was struck by an attenuator truck that was backing up to pick up cones from a shoulder closure, State Police said. The incident happened near milepost 36.6 in Winslow Township, Camden County, and involved a subcontractor for the South Jersey Transportation Authority, the SJTA said Friday. State Police responded at 7 a.m. to a report of an incident in a construction zone. The unnamed driver of the truck did not know Tarsitano was behind the truck, and accidentally ran over him, State Police said. Tarsitano died from his injuries.
Worker dead after being electrocuted while trimming trees near power lines, officials said
SAN ANTONIO, TX – A worker is dead after being electrocuted while trimming trees near power lines in a West Side neighborhood. Emergency crews responded, but the worker, identified as Alex Quintanilla, 40, was pronounced dead on the scene. The accident happened around 8 a.m. Wednesday on South San Dario Avenue near Castroville Road.
Worker installing solar panels dies in fall from roof of Pa. house
Northampton County, PA — A 57-year-old roofing contractor died Tuesday evening in a fall outside a Northampton County home, state police said. The man was attempting to place solar panels onto the roof of the property in the 200 block of Mill Race Road in Allen Township, Trooper Nathan Branosky, public information officer with Pennsylvania State Police’s Troop M, told lehighvalleylive.com. The worker fell just before 5:15 p.m., and troopers responded minutes after, Branosky said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:05 p.m. by the Northampton County Coroner’s Office. Coroner Zachary Lysek has yet to identify the man. An autopsy is pending to reveal the man’s cause and manner of death.
Calvin Sellars, 46, killed in tower fall in Trinity County, Texas;
Trinity County, TX — Tower Tech Calvin Wayne Sellars, 46, died after falling from a 50-foot level of an internet tower at the Whispering Pines golf course on July 14. His employer never contacted OSHA regarding the fatality. According to the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office, a tower technician died on July 14, 2025, when he fell from an internet tower at the Whispering Pines golf course near Sebastopol, Texas. In a statement, Sheriff Woody Wallace said that Calvin Wayne Sellars, 46, was working on the tower when he fell to the ground from approximately 50 feet up. Wallace said Sellars was pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff’s office did not provide the name of Sellars’ employer. Multiple requests to the sheriff’s office for additional information were not returned, and the fatality was not listed on OSHA’s establishment search platform, where worker deaths are typically uploaded within two to three days of the incident. Wireless Estimator identified the employer as Trace Wireless of Groveton and contacted the business multiple times for comment, but the company did not respond.
Worker fixing Downtown Willoughby sign fatally thrown from lift after truck hits it
WILLOUGHBY, Ohio (WOIO) – A deadly crash shut down Erie Street in the Downtown Willoughby Historic District on Monday morning. The Willoughby Police Department confirmed an employee was up in a “red cherry picker truck” working on the DavEd Jewelers sign at 4137 Erie St. A Ryder box truck then crashed into the lift at approximately 9:47 a.m., WPD Public Information Officer Det. Lt. John Begovic stated. The 30-year-old man was flown from the bucket and landed on a car across the street, according to Begovic. An off-duty nurse who witnessed the crash rushed to help the employee and performed CPR, Begovic stated. The witness told 19 News that first responders were on scene within one minute. Begovic said an ambulance took the man to University Hospitals Lake West Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. His name has not yet been released.
Commercial truck driver killed after tall equipment strikes Lehi train overpass
LEHI, Utah (KUTV) — A commercial truck driver died after crashing into a Lehi train overpass and rolling the vehicle. Officials with the Lehi City Police Department said the truck was passing under an overpass near 2100 N and 2000 W around 9:30 a.m. on Sunday when the truck’s equipment hit the structure. Lt. William Loveridge said the truck was carrying a crane with the boom raised too high, causing the crash. After the crane struck the overpass, the driver lost control, and the vehicle rolled, officials said. Loveridge said the driver was partially ejected from the passenger window and pinned under the truck. The driver was declared deceased at the scene.
59-year-old fatally crushed under car after jack fails
Jones County, MS — A Mississippi man died after being pinned under a car he was working on, deputies said. Gary Woodman, 59, was working on the vehicle Saturday, July 19, when the jack failed, the Jones County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release. The car crushed him, trapping him underneath. Calhoun Fire & Rescue and other emergency agencies responded to the scene, deputies said. Crews used a “battery powered rescue spreader” to lift the car off of Woodman, who wasn’t breathing, according to the sheriff’s department. Deputies began CPR until an ambulance arrived. The injured man was taken to a hospital in Laurel, where he was medically stabilized before being transferred to Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, according to the sheriff’s department. Woodman died from his injuries July 20, deputies said in an update.
Shelter Worker Killed in Dog Attack at Mississippi Animal Rescue
Raymond, Miss — A 57-year-old animal shelter employee died this month after being attacked by two dogs while working at a Mississippi rescue facility. Clifford Irving Phillips Jr. was fatally mauled on July 17 while working at Second Chance Animal Alliance on Highway 315, the shelter confirmed in a Facebook post. Phillips, a Water Valley resident, had been employed at the nonprofit shelter, which describes itself as a volunteer-led organization that provides care and finds homes for dogs in need, according to its website. The attack happened after Phillips attempted to place a dog into a pen that already contained another dog, according to Dudley Woods, who knew Phillips for around nine years.
Meijer employee dies after fall inside Mount Pleasant store
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – A 59-year-old dairy and frozen food worker died after falling from a semi-truck trailer at Meijer in Mount Pleasant. The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration says the accident occurred on July 22 while the worker was unloading stock with a stand-up powered industrial truck shortly before 2 a.m. in the store at 1015 E. Pickard Road. The worker struck their head during the fall. The Mount Pleasant Police Department says an MMR ambulance rushed the worker to an area hospital, where they later died from head injuries.
Worker dies in accident at Mississippi university
COLUMBUS, Miss. – A contractor died while working on a building at the Mississippi University for Women (The W) in Columbus, officials said. WCBI reported the incident occurred around 11:15 a.m. on July 28 when the worker allegedly fell from the roof or a piece of equipment being lifted to the roof of Painter Hall. The worker was transported to Baptist Golden Triangle. The worker’s identity has not been released by the Lowndes County coroner. Ignacio Hernandez, 47, a contractor with Roofing Solutions LLC, was working with a crew removing the roof when it is believed his safety equipment failed, causing him to fall approximately 35 feet to the ground, Lowndes County Coroner Greg Merchant said.
Warehouse employee run over by truck, dies at business in Jacksonville’s Grand Park area
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville warehouse worker is dead after he was run over by a large commercial truck Friday in the parking lot of a business in the Grand Park area. The accident occurred at about 6:38 a.m. at the business in the 2100 block of W. 18th Street, according to a Jacksonville police news release. The truck driver made a sharp right turn while exiting the warehouse. The rear wheels of the truck ran over the employee, a man in his 60s, who was bent over counting inventory near the exit, police said.
Dump truck driver killed when vehicle struck by tractor trailer in Stetson
Stetson, ME — One person was killed after the dump truck he was driving was struck by a tractor trailer Wednesday in Stetson, officials said. State troopers responded shortly after 1 p.m. to the collision at the intersection of Lapoint and Merrill roads, according to Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss. The dump truck, driven by Scott Webber, 64, of Glenburn, was traveling east on Merrill Road, when a tractor trailer ran a stop sign at the Lapoint Road intersection, according to Moss. The dump truck was struck and overturned onto the passenger side, Moss said. “The impact caused the fully loaded tractor trailer to strike a utility pole, causing it to snap and come to rest on top of the unit,” Moss stated. Webber died as he was being transported to the hospital, Moss said.
Worker killed Wednesday at Edgerton intermodal facility
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A man was struck and killed by a semi truck while working at an intermodal facility Wednesday in Edgerton. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office says they received a call around 10 a.m. to respond to the Logistics Park Kansas City Intermodal Facility in Edgerton regarding a person struck. According to a sheriff’s office spokesperson, a worker was struck by the driver of a semi truck. The worker died from his injuries. The driver of the semi truck, who was not injured, remained on the scene and was cooperating in the investigation.
1 Killed in 18-Wheeler Accident on I-294 in Chicago, IL
Chicago, IL — July 23, 2025, One person was killed following an 18-wheeler accident that occurred at around 4:00 A.M. on Interstate 294. According to reports, an 18-wheeler was traveling on Interstate 294 near the Interstate 290 ramp when it lost control for unknown reasons and rolled over on its side. When first responders arrived on-scene they found the driver fatally injured and they were pronounced deceased. No other vehicles were involved in the crash, and officials have not provided an updates on the investigation’s status which is ongoing.
One of three Ohio police officers shot in ambush dies
Lorain, Oh — One of three Lorain, Ohio, police officers shot Wednesday in what authorities described as an ambush has died, police said Thursday. Officer Phillip C. Wagner was eating pizza for lunch in his parked patrol car with another patrol car next to him around 1:05 p.m. when a gunman, also parked in the area, opened fire on them, Lorain police said. Wagner, 35, was shot multiple times, and he died Thursday at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, police said. Two other officers were injured. The officer who was parked next to Wagner was shot in the hand, and an officer who drove to help after the gunfire was also shot multiple times, police said. Officers killed the gunman in an exchange of gunfire, the police department in the neighboring city of Elyria, which is conducting the investigation, said Thursday.
Station Employee Killed In Freak Accident
Gulfport, MS — An employee of Coast Radio Group in Gulfport, MS was killed last Friday afternoon when an out-of-control car crashed through the front of the building housing the seven-station radio group, which includes Country WZKX (Kicker 108), Classic Hits WGCM (Coast 102), and Top 40 WZNF (95.3 Gorilla). Police rushed to the scene around 1:40pm and found a BMW sedan inside. The Biloxi Sun Herald reports that Elizabeth “Liz” Thornburg, 59, an office administrator, died at the scene, according to Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer.
77-year-old man dies in machinery accident at Cinnaminson farm
CINNAMINSON, N.J. (WPVI) — A 77-year-old man has died following a machinery accident at a farm in Cinnaminson, New Jersey. Crews were dispatched the scene at Hunters Farm on the 1100 block of Union Landing Road around 10:16 a.m. Sunday. Upon arrival, they found John Howard Hunter had suffered fatal injuries as a result of a machinery accident. Police have not released any further details at this time. The investigation is still ongoing.
Worker dies after fall at Berkeley’s Sylvia Mendez Elementary School
Berkely, CA — Jonathan Dillard “JD” Guidi, 41, of Sacramento, died after a fall while working construction at Sylvia Mendez Elementary School on July 24. Jonathan Dillard “JD” Guidi, 41, fell off a scaffolding, a 911 caller told dispatchers, around 12:50 p.m. Thursday, according to fire department and school district officials, the county coroner and Guidi’s family. Deputy Berkeley Fire Chief Keith May said Guidi had fallen approximately 40 feet. Guidi was in critical condition after the fall and was taken to a hospital but did not survive, according to school and fire officials. He was a father of seven.
Truck Driver Killed In Elmhurst Rollover Crash
ELMHURST, IL – A semi-truck driver died in a rollover crash early Wednesday morning on an expressway in Elmhurst, the Sun-Times reported. The crash happened about 4 a.m. on the Interstate 294 southbound ramp to eastbound Interstate 290. Police closed the ramp and asked drivers to seek alternate routes and expect delays.
Man shot and killed at Wegmans warehouse in Gates after argument in parking lot
GATES, N.Y. – A man in his 20s was shot and killed at the Wegmans warehouse in Gates on Saturday afternoon. Police responded to the facility just after 4 p.m. following a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found that J’Mere Ridley-Smith, 25, of Rochester was shot and killed dead with multiple gunshot wounds. The facility was temporarily shut down, and employees were placed under a shelter-in-place order while the investigation was conducted. Police said there was an argument between the victim and the suspect in the Wegmans parking lot. However, they did not confirm if that was where the shooting occurred or what led to the argument. Police do not believe this shooting is connected to a previous incident at the Amazon facility in Gates, where an employee was shot in the parking lot and later died. Wegmans released a statement saying, “We are heartbroken by this tragic situation that resulted in the death of one of our employees. We extend our deepest sympathies to the victim’s family and loved ones.”
Wyandotte County sheriff’s deputy killed in shooting, suspect in custody
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A Wyandotte County sheriff’s deputy has died after a shooting Saturday afternoon. In a news conference, Kansas City, Kansas, police Chief Karl Oakman confirmed a Wyandotte County sheriff’s deputy suffered life-threatening injuries in a shooting around 3 p.m. Deputy Elijah Ming, 34, died after he and a Kansas City, Kansas police officer responded to a home in the 2600 block of South 30th Street around 3:45 p.m. A woman had requested help moving out due to safety concerns, telling police that a man had threatened her friends with a gun. The deputy was rushed to an area hospital.
NYC office shooting victims include NYPD officer, security guard, Blackstone employee and Cornell grad
New York, NY — The four victims who were shot and killed by a gunman inside a Midtown Manhattan office building on Monday night have been identified. They include two women — a Blackstone executive and a Cornell graduate — and two security guards, one of whom was an off-duty NYPD officer who was in uniform working a private security job as part of an NYPD program. The motive behind the shooting is still unclear. Among the victims in the deadly shooting was NYPD Officer Didarul Islam. Islam was an immigrant from Bangladesh who had served as a police officer in New York City for 3 1/2 years. He had been with the department for three and a half years and was working at the building in a private security role. He leaves behind two young sons and a pregnant wife. Blackstone employee Wesley LePatner was also killed. An initial investigation into the shooting found that a woman, later identified as LePatner, was hiding behind a pillar when she was shot and killed by the gunman as he walked through the lobby. LePatner was the senior managing director of real estate in New York at Blackstone. Aland Etienne was working for McLane Security Inc. as an unarmed security guard, according to a spokesperson for 32BJ SEIU, a union representing property service workers. Etienne had been a union member since 2017, the spokesperson said, when he started working in the Park Avenue office building. He was later moved to a different site before he returned to the Park Avenue building in 2019. The fourth victim worked for Rudin Management on the 33rd floor of the office building. Julia Hyman graduated from the Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration, the school confirmed to CBS News. “Julia was a cherished member of our community, and her loss is deeply felt across the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her during this time of unimaginable grief,” the college’s dean, Andrew Karolyi, said in a statement.
Who killed bartender, 3 others in Montana mass shooting?
Anaconda, MT — Four days after authorities said a lone gunman walked into a Montana bar, brazenly opened fire and killed a bartender and three patrons, the suspected shooter, identified as a former U.S. Army solider, remained on the run. The quadruple shooting, officials from multiple law enforcement jurisdictions reported, took place on Friday, Aug. 1 at The Owl Bar in the rural town of Anaconda in Deer Lodge County, just over a 100-mile drive west of Bozeman. The Montana Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) reported the killings took place at about 10:30 a.m. local time and, during a weekend press conference in southwest Montana, State Attorney General Austin Knudsen identified the four victims as local residents aging in range from 59-75 including a 64-year-old woman, Nancy Lauretta Kelley, who tended the bar.
Worker dies in Tiger Stadium; suffered medical emergency, LSU says
BATON ROUGE, LA – A contract employee working for LSU died in Tiger Stadium on Monday afternoon, the school confirmed. The university said that the worker, who has not been identified, had a medical emergency.
Contractor killed, suspect pulled up on him in parking lot
HOUSTON, TX – Houston police are searching for the suspect behind the deadly shooting of a worker in South Central Houston early Wednesday morning. Lieutenant Willkens with the Houston Police Department reports the victim was a male in his 30s who was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the owner, the victim was doing contract commercial work in the kitchen and helping pressure wash different utensils and other dishes outside. Lt. Willkens says surveillance video shows the man outside washing pots and pans when a silver or gray truck pulls into the parking lot. The person in the truck gets the man’s attention, and he walks up to the truck, officials say. The two begin speaking, but it is unsure what is being said. Houston police report the suspect got out of the truck to speak some more to the worker. Suddenly, the suspect shot the man point-blank, got back inside the truck, and drove off.
Workplace incidents kill one, injure two
New Castle County, DE — Three workplace accidents in New Castle County within a span of 24 hours have killed one man and seriously injured two others. Delaware State Police said a death investigation was being conducted into an incident in the Milltown area Tuesday morning, July 29, 2025. Police and paramedics responded to a single story home in the 2400 block of Limestone Road around 9:30 a.m., and found a man who had been working on the roof of a house, and fell off. He was pronounced dead at Christiana Hospital. About an hour later, a man was hospitalized in critical condition after suffering an electrical shock while on the job in New Castle. New Castle County paramedics and members of the Wilmington Manor Fire Company treated the victim at Corporate Commons on Reads Way around 10:30 a.m. The 55-year-old man suffered burn injuries to his head, neck and extremities as well as possible internal injuries, and was taken to Christiana Hospital in critical condition.
Firefighter dies in crash while headed to grass fire
DRAPER, S.D. (KFGO) – A volunteer firefighter with the Murdo, South Dakota Fire Department died last weekend while en route to a large grass fire. The Highway Patrol says Nicholas Van Dam was driving a fire-tender truck when he left a road. The truck rolled and Van Dam was ejected. Van Dam was a Captain with the fire department. He died at the scene north of Draper.
West Michigan community mourns loss of Consumers Energy lineman killed in crash
Holland, MI — A large group of utility workers lined the streets in Holland on Thursday in honor of a colleague killed on the job. Workers in their hard-to-miss neon shirts and hard hats parked their utility trucks along 120th Avenue near North Holland Reformed Church to celebrate the life and legacy of Jeff Streur. Lines of bucket trucks had their booms raised high to create a towering arch, with flags flying above. “We want them to know that this is a celebration of Jeff Streur’s life as a lineman, as a father, as a brother, as a son,” coworker and friend Matt Koch said. Family and friends said Jeff Streur was on the job working as a lineman and was en route to restore power for a customer when he died in a crash last Friday. Jeff was the guy who always came in with a smile,” said Matthew Koch, a line worker in charge with Consumers Energy at the Hamilton Service Center and longtime colleague. Koch said he and Jeff went up north to repair heavily damaged infrastructure during the historic ice storm.
Dump truck driver killed, two others injured in three-car collision on Amelia Island
Amelia Island, FL — A 55-year-old driver from Indiana was killed and two elderly drivers were seriously injured Thursday afternoon in a collision on Amelia Island, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash report says the dump truck was northbound on Amelia Island Parkway near South 14th Street around 12:41 PM. For unknown reasons, it collided head-on with a southbound pickup truck driven by an 84-year-old man. The dump truck overturned before being hit by a sedan driven by a 100-year-old woman. The 55-year-old man died at the scene, while the other two drivers, both from Fernandina Beach, were taken to the hospital.
One dead, one injured after a building in St. Marys collapses
ST. MARYS, Ohio (WLIO) – Officials have confirmed that one person has died after a building collapsed in St. Marys Thursday morning. Fire officials say that the call came in around 10:30 AM for the collapse, which happened at 305 East Spring Street. After hours of work, crews were able to reach the body of 41-year-old Christopher Brown of St. Marys, who had died in the incident. Another person was able to be removed from the debris and was transported to Grand Lake Health with non-life-threatening injuries. That person has already been released from the hospital. That person’s name has not been released at this time.Signs on the front of the former Warhawk Tattoo shop show that the building was under repair. The first floor of the building, formerly Warhawk Tattoo, has been vacant for several months. The second story held apartments, but no one was inside at the time. The building was being worked on prior to the collapse. St. Marys Fire Chief Douglas Ayers detailed the careful and painstaking process of the recovery effort of the second victim.
Construction Worker Killed By Drunk Driver In Toms River
Toms River, NJ — At 1 a.m., Toms River police responded to Lakewood Road and Raymond Avenue and found the man, who was working for a roadway construction company, with serious injuries in the roadway, the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office said. He was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River where he was pronounced dead, authorities said. He has not been publicly identified.
Nelson County man dies in Thursday morning fall at Hibbs Lane home
Cox’s Creek, KY — A Nelson County man died Thursday morning after a fall from a bucket truck while working at a home in the 1800 of Hibbs Lane north of Cox’s Creek. The Northeast Nelson Fire Department responded to assist Nelson County EMS with a victim suffering from trauma from a fall. The worker fell about 35 feet, according to authorities. Nelson County Coroner Danielle Chladek pronounced the man dead at the scene. The victim’s identity was not released.