How Workers Died Last Week: Confined space, heat, cement roller, falls, electrocutions, coal mining, crane collapse, 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
3 dead due to gas leak in Trinity County
TRINITY, Texas — Trinity County Sheriff Woody Wallace confirmed three men are dead following a critical gas leak in Trinity. The three workers were identified as John Nelson Sr, Bradley Wrightsman, 46, and Brad Hutton, 47. Wallace said three men who were working in the sewer-area were found unconscious due to a leak of hydrogen sulfide and subsequently died. Chief Deputy Jeremy Carroll with the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office confirmed all three men have been recovered. They were workers performing motor repair and contracted from H20 Innovations and Hydroclear Services. All three men were from the greater Houston area, and were ages 46, 47 and 52. No further information about their identities have been released. A shelter-in-place order was established within a quarter mile of the Westwood Shores sewer plant, but has been lifted as of 5 p.m. Residents are still asked to avoid the Dawns Edge and Creekway to Oakridge areas in Westwood Shores. Upon Trinity Fire Department arriving on scene, it was determined that the gas leak was contained to the manhole. Once it was deemed safe for first responders to access the manhole, crews began the recovery process. Carroll said because of the lift station’s location, several other pumps were feeding into it and crews had to pump water out to get to where the workers were located. It was determined that one of the lines below the manhole started to crack, so one of the crew members went into the hole to cap the line and prevent the backup and overflow, but was rendered unconscious. At this time, one of the crew members from H20 Innovations went after him, and was also rendered unconscious. Officials believe the third individual from Hydroclear then descended to save the other two and was subsequently rendered unconscious.
Person dies after suffering ‘traumatic injury’ at Bal Harbour construction site
Bal Harbor, FL — A person has died after suffering a “traumatic injury” at a construction site in Bal Harbour on Thursday, officials said. The incident happened at the Bal Harbour Shops in the area of Collins Avenue and 98th Street. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue officials said they responded to a medical call there and found the person with a “traumatic injury.” Crews worked to remove the person from a confined space and airlifted them to a local hospital, officials said.
Contract worker crushed to death at rail yard in El Mirage
EL MIRAGE, AZ — A worker died after being crushed at a BNSF rail yard in the West Valley on Thursday morning. According to El Mirage police, officers were called to assist firefighters and paramedics at the BNSF Automotive Distribution Center on Thompson Ranch Road near Grand Avenue around 9:15 a.m. Officers learned the man had become trapped under a metal plate weighing more than 1,000 pounds. Paramedics arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene. His name has not yet been released, but police said he was a contract worker. In a brief statement, a BNSF spokesperson told Arizona’s Family: “We’re aware of the unfortunate incident that happened this morning, however, it didn’t involve a BNSF employee or BNSF equipment.”
Man dies after touching power line while working in Sterling Heights, police say
STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (WXYZ) — A man who was doing landscaping work has died after touching a power line in Sterling Heights Monday afternoon, police said. Police said a 41-year-old man of Grosse Pointe Park touched a power line while on a mechanical lift around 2:30 p.m. near Metropolitan Parkway and Mound Road. The victim was unconscious after touching the power line. When officials arrived, the man was still in the air on the mechanical lift. First responders performed CPR and the victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Monday evening, police said the man died. The man who died from electrocution on Monday after coming into contact with a power line in Sterling Heights was a school bus driver. It’s unclear why a school bus driver was tasked with the work.
Immokalee farmworker collapses under Florida’s punishing sun, dies a week later
Immokalee, FL — For roughly the past eight growing seasons, Marco Antonio Hernandez Guevara came to the United States from Mexico to help plant and harvest the vast cornucopia of food that feeds a nation. In late May he finished his seventh contracted project under the country’s H-2A program that allows workers to lawfully enter the U.S. to fill jobs growers cannot find enough workers for. Hernandez Guevara came to Immokalee recently to start another H-2A agriculture job. It was supposed to be a seven-day-a-week job lasting until June. But something went tragically amiss on Aug. 13, his first day back in the fields for his new farmworker job. Hernandez Guevara collapsed in the fields, dying eight days later when it was apparent that life-saving measures at North Collier Hospital could not bring the migrant worker back to health. Guevara was declared brain dead.
Coal miner killed in southern West Virginia
WHITESVILLE, W.Va. –A Logan County man has been killed in an accident today in a southern West Virginia coal mine. The West Virginia Office of Miner’s Health, Safety, and Training confirms Eric Bartram, 41, of Chapmanville was killed on the job around 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. He was working at the Marfork Processing Plant near Whitesville, W.Va. The mine is operated by Marfork Coal, a division of Alpha Metallurgical Resources. “The entire Alpha organization is deeply saddened by this accident,” Alpha’s chief executive officer Andy Eidson said. “Our hearts are with Eric’s family and loved ones. We are heartbroken to learn of his loss.” Bartram was a 14-year veteran mine worker and worked as an electrician. An investigation by state and mine safety investigators is underway. No further details about how Bartram died were released.
Ilion Employee Dies in Electrical Accident
Ilion, NY — —A Village of Ilion employee died in a workplace accident on Friday afternoon. According to the Village of Ilion, the incident, which occurred around 2 p.m., involved an accidental electrical issue. Village of Ilion officials have identified the employee as Electric Department foreman Phil Whynot. Officials said that Whynot, who had been with the department since 2006, was working with two other crew members on running a chase line to prepare for future electrical work when he accidentally made contact with an energized portion of the transformer, killing him instantly.
One dead after crane tips over at NW Austin construction site
AUSTIN, Texas — A contractor died Thursday afternoon after being trapped inside a mobile crane that tipped over at a construction site in northwest Austin. The incident occurred at 9009 Spicebrush Drive around 12:23 p.m., Austin-Travis County EMS said. Emergency responders found the crane on its side with one person trapped inside, unconscious. Austin Fire Department and ATCEMS crews worked to extract the victim, but medics pronounced the adult patient dead at the scene less than an hour after the initial call. The CBS Austin crew on scene said it occurred at a construction site within a residential area. Authorities have not released the victim’s identity or additional details about what caused the crane to tip over. First responders remained at the scene to continue their investigation.
Man dies in tragic workplace accident involving cement roller in Mackinac County
MACKINAC COUNTY, Mich., (WPBN/WGTU) — A man died from what the Mackinac County Sheriff’s Office is calling “a workplace accident.” According to the sheriff’s office, deputies responded to the incident in Moran Township on Friday. A 55-year-old man was crushed by a cement roller he was operating when it lost control on a steep grade and rolled on top of the operator and landed in a ditch. The sheriff’s office said the man died from his injuries. The name of the deceased will not be released until the next of kin is notified.
Truck driver killed in hit-and-run crash in Washington County
ROBINSON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A truck driver was killed in a hit-and-run crash in Washington County on Monday. Washington County dispatchers said emergency crews were called to the ramp from Route 22 Eastbound onto the Southern Beltway in Robinson Township at 3 p.m. Washington County Coroner Tim Warco said Brian Everhart, 46, was driving a commercial truck on Route 22. He parked to the right of the fog line to get out of the vehicle and check on a mechanical issue. While outside of the truck, he was hit and killed by another driver who did not remain at the scene, officials said. Pennsylvania State Police are leading the investigation.
Police ID Kan. officer struck, killed by suspect vehicle during chase
WYANDOTTE COUNTY, KS – The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating a vehicle pursuit that occurred Tuesday morning in Kansas City, Kansas, resulting in an officer being struck and killed. At approximately 12:30 a.m., officers from the Kansas City, Kansas were dispatched near the 7700 block of Everett Ave, regarding shots being fired. At approximately 12:40 a.m., officers located an unconscious man in the driver’s seat of a truck. As officers approached the driver, he woke up and fled the scene. The driver, later identified as Dennis Mitchell III, 31, of Kansas City, was pursued by law enforcement. He abandoned the truck, entered another vehicle, and continued fleeing from officers. During the pursuit, two Kansas City, Kansas officers exited their vehicle to stage stop sticks in the 7200 block of State Ave. Mitchell drove toward an officer, striking him before continuing to flee the area. The officer, identified as Hunter Simoncic, 26, was struck and transported to the University of Kansas Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased.
Worker Found Dead at Tuscaloosa Hospital, No Foul Play Suspected
Tuscaloosa, AL — Police say there is no evidence of foul play or criminal activity after a worker at Tuscaloosa’s DCH Regional Medical Center was found dead at the hospital on Monday. Jack Kennedy, the commander of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, said the hospital contacted the Tuscaloosa Police Department on Monday about finding the body of an employee at their work area. “Preliminary findings from the medical examiner are that the deceased passed away from a medical issue,” Kennedy said.
Kentucky firefighter and Army veteran Brian Hatt dies following rollover crash
Marion County, KY — A Marion County firefighter who was critically injured in a crash while responding to an emergency call has died from his injuries. Lt. Brian Hatt, 51, died at the University of Louisville Hospital Monday, after his fire truck went off the road and hit an embankment on August 22. Hatt had been a member of the Raywick Fire Department for 12 years and was also a retired U.S. Army veteran. “Taking this loss right here is not taken lightly. It’s just not another first responder, it’s just not another person,” said Captain Michael Wright with the Southeast Bullitt Fire Department, who worked alongside Hatt. Hatt was responding to a tractor-trailer fire along with firefighter Leonard Winkler when their tanker truck crashed. Winkler is still recovering at the hospital.
Semi-truck driver killed in Wabasha County rollover crash
Wabasha County, MN — The Minnesota State Patrol said a Michigan man was killed Tuesday after his semi-truck left the highway and rolled. Craig Alan Goring, 52, was driving north on Highway 42 in Wabasha County when authorities said his semi left the roadway and rolled just before noon. Goring was declared dead at the scene. The State Patrol was unable to confirm whether he had been wearing his seat belt at the time of the crash.
Coroner IDs truck driver killed on Laval Road offramp
Kern County, CA — The Kern County coroner’s office has identified the truck driver who died Monday afternoon after his semi overturned at the Laval Road west offramp along Interstate 5. The agency reported Wednesday that Orlando, Fla. resident Hongyi Ji, age 62, died at the scene at 2:47 p.m., or about 27 minutes after the accident.
Worker falls to death from roof in Lowell’s Centralville neighborhood
LOWELL, MA — Tragedy struck the Centralville neighborhood late Thursday morning when a construction worker fell to his death from the roof of a multifamily home being built at 73 Aiken Ave. The three-story building with a gable roof is being constructed to replace a previous multifamily residence that was torn down after it was destroyed by a six-alarm fire last September.
Local Taco Bell employee dies after being shot multiple times
QUEENSGATE, Ohio (WKRC) – A local Taco Bel employee was shot and killed on Friday. It happened around 12:10 a.m. in the parking lot of a Taco Bell on Gest Street in Queensgate. Authorities said the victim, identified by police as 32-year-old Ryan Johnson, was struck multiple times. Rescuers with the Cincinnati Fire Department responded and attempted life-saving measures, but Johnson died at the scene.
LifeNet Flight Medic Dies Treating Patient Aboard Helicopter
Albany, NY — A LifeNet flight paramedic collapsed and died while treating a patient. The incident occurred aboard LifeNet 7-13 while Paramedic Kevin Robert and a flight nurse were taking care of a patient headed to Albany, according to a statement on the agency’s Facebook page. The pilot quickly radioed communications about the incident and landed at Saratoga hospital. Despite efforts, Robert could not be revived. “The Ticonderoga base remains on safety stand-down as we allow our team the time and space they need to grieve,” officials wrote. Robert is being remembered as a man who dedicated his life to serving others.
Construction worker dies in I-75 crash involving road painting crew in Florida
Broward County, FL — A construction worker died early Saturday morning, after a truck hit road maintenance vehicles on Interstate 75, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The fatal crash was at mile marker 49 on I-75 just before 2 a.m. when a truck towing a boat trailer failed to slow down for construction vehicles, FHP said. Troopers aid the construction crew was painting divider lines on the road and right shoulder. A Scorpion Road Construction Crash Truck was following the line-painting vehicle to provide protection for the work zone, FHP wrote. The truck driver failed to yield to the slower-moving construction vehicles, striking the rear of the crash truck, which caused the Scorpion truck to hit the line-painting vehicle ahead of it, FHP said. The 64-year-old driver of the Scorpion truck died. The Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash.
Truck Driver Killed in Eastland County Crash
STRAWN, TX — A Valley View man died Friday morning after his truck tractor towing a Greyhound bus veered off Interstate 20 and rolled over in Eastland County, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The crash happened at 7:28 a.m. on Aug. 29 near mile marker 363, about five miles south of Strawn. DPS said Guillermo Luna, 40, was driving a 2021 Kenworth truck tractor westbound when the vehicle drifted off the roadway onto the shoulder. Investigators reported the truck struck a guardrail and continued along it until reaching a gap, then traveled down an embankment, hit a tree and rolled over into a dry creek bed. Luna, who was wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced deceased at the scene by Justice of the Peace Jesse Speer.