Logging, mining, firefighting, confined space, lightning, highway construction, crushed by stone slab, vehicle incidents and 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. Why We Write The Weekly Toll
Rockford Workplace Accident Claims Life of 38-Year-Old Employee
Rockford, IL — A tragic accident at a Rockford workplace has claimed the life of a man who was crushed by a falling stone slab. According to the press release from the Winnebago County Coroner, emergency crews were called to C&I Stone Design around 1 pm on Thursday (10/2) following reports of an industrial accident. Preliminary reports suggest that a worker was pinned between two large stone slabs while assisting a coworker in moving an 800-pound quartz slab around 12:40 p.m., when the slab began to fall toward him. Despite his attempt to brace against the weight, the slab pressed him against another stone slab, pinning him in place. Rockford Police officers and the Rockford Fire Department arrived on the scene within minutes of the 911 call. Fire crews were able to remove the slab, but the victim was unresponsive. He was pronounced deceased at 1:25 pm, and an autopsy was conducted by the Winnnebago County Coroner, where the cause of death was determined to be crushing injuries of the head. According to the Winnebago County Coroner’s press release, the victim has been identified as 38-year-old Horacio Prada Dominguez.
One person dead following incident at plant in Pryor
PRYOR, Okla. — A person is dead after an incident at a plant in Pryor Saturday morning. According to officials, the incident occurred at 1:30 a.m. at the LSB Industries Inc.’s (LSB) facility that resulted in the death of a contractor working at the site. Emergency personnel arrived quickly on scene and secured the site. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation. The family has confirmed with FOX23 that the person who died in the accident was Lonnie Dean Swift, 57.
Contract worker dies at UPPCO’s Hoist Dam
NEGAUNEE, MI – A contractor died Friday morning while working at the Upper Peninsula Power Company’s Hoist Dam in Negaunee Township, authorities said. The Marquette County Sheriff’s Office Technical Rescue Unit 131 was dispatched about 11 a.m. for a confined rescue inside a penstock of UPPCO’s Hoist Powerhouse, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office. “A contractor had to be extricated from inside the penstock and was later pronounced dead at the scene,” the release states. Two contractors were working to apply a coating inside the penstock when it is believed their air monitors alerted them conditions were unsafe and the two workers headed to the access hatch. One managed to get out and was taken to UPHS-Bell and is in stable condition. The other slid nearly 90 feet down the inclined pipe and did not escape, according to the news release.
Poughkeepsie Crossing Guard James Montanino Killed
Poughkeepsie, NY — James Montanino, 72, was on duty at 372 Church St. in Poughkeepsie at around 7:30 a.m. on Monday when he was struck by a vehicle while assisting children on their way to the Smith Elementary School, the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department said on Monday afternoon. Montanino was taken to MidHudson Regional Hospital, where he later died of his injuries. The driver, a 38-year-old Poughkeepsie resident, stayed at the scene and is cooperating with investigators. Police said there is no indication that alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash, which at this time appears to have been a “tragic accident.”
Worker killed when flying truck tire hits road crew on East Freeway, HCSO says
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A man is dead after authorities said he and a group of men were repaving a section of Monmouth just before 10 a.m. Thursday, when a tire flew off an 18-wheeler and hit the man, killing him. According to the Harris County Sheriff’s office, the incident happened in the 100 block of Monmouth Street. Deputies said an 18-wheeler was traveling westbound on the East Freeway, while the victim, identified as Jose Bonilla, and other crewmen were repaving the northbound lane of Monmouth. The big rig at one point lost its wheels while traveling; the wheel fell from the main lanes, hit William Burns, another crew member, before hitting the paving machine, and then hit Bonilla. A third crewman, Israel Medellin, was also hit. The wheel then redirected to the northeast, where it hit an unoccupied Chevrolet Tahoe. Medellin suffered serious injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital. Authorities said Bonilla died at the scene.
Accident in Spirit Lake involving construction equipment claims life of a Worthington, MN. man
SPIRIT LAKE, IOWA (KUOO) – An accident Tuesday in Spirit Lake involving some construction equipment has claimed the life of a Worthington, Minnesota man. KUOO Radio reports that the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office was called around 9:00 am to the 3300 block of Erie Avenue in Spirit Lake after getting a report of a man pinned under some construction equipment. He was freed from the equipment shortly before law enforcement and EMS personnel arrived. Authorities say 23-year-old Balduino Florencio Velasquez of Worthington was operating a Lull when it started to tip over. Florencio Velasquez exited the Lull, and it landed on top of him, pinning him to the ground. Florenzio Velasquez was transported by ambulance to Lakes Regional Healthcare, where he died of his injuries.
Man dead following logging incident in Buffalo County
TOWN OF CANTON, Wis. (WEAU) – A man is dead following a logging incident in Buffalo County. According to a press release from the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, on Oct. 1, 2025, at around 10:01 a.m., authorities received a report of a logging incident on County Road VV in the Town of Canton. The press release says bystanders reported that a 71-year-old man had suffered severe head injuries from being hit by a tree while logging. The man was taken by private vehicle to Lindstrom Equipment in Modena, where bystanders provided CPR until emergency crews arrived. Despite lifesaving efforts, the man was later pronounced dead.
Miner dies in underground accident
CRESCENT VALLEY, CA — A worker was killed in an underground mine accident on Monday, Sept. 27, Nevada Gold Mines said in a statement on Tuesday. Jeremy Smokey, who started his job at the Goldrush Underground mine in Eureka County in August, died of “injuries sustained in an accident,” the company said, adding managers were “deeply saddened” by his death. “Jeremy was a valued member of our team,” a statement from the company said. “Our primary focus now is supporting those impacted by this tragic event.” It added, “We extend our heartfelt condolences to Jeremy’s family, friends and coworkers and are keeping them in our thoughts and prayers.” Goldrush Underground, part of the Cortez Complex, opened in 2024.
Worthington Man Dead After Equipment Tip Over
Spirit Lake, Iowa — A man from Worthington, Minnesota, has died after a construction accident in Dickinson County. The Sheriff’s Office says it happened just after 9 A-M Tuesday in the 33-hundred block of Erie Avenue. Authorities report 23-year-old Oliver Florencio Velasquez was operating a piece of construction equipment when it began to tip over. He tried to get out of the machine, but it landed on him. Florencio Velasquez was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Urban Alchemy worker asked a man to stop using drugs outside S.F. Main Library. Now he’s dead
San Francisco, CA — A man fatally shot outside San Francisco’s main library was an employee of Urban Alchemy — the nonprofit group hired by the city to try to calm some of its roughest downtown streets — who had asked the alleged gunman to refrain from using drugs in public, organization leaders said Tuesday. Joey Alexander, a 60-year-old Oakland resident, died Tuesday from his injuries, police said. Alexander was shot by the suspect, 42-year-old Edmund Lawrence Bowen, just before 5 p.m. on Friday near the front door of the library on Larkin Street, a block east of City Hall, authorities said. According to the nonprofit, Alexander approached the suspect and asked him to stop openly using drugs, telling him there were families nearby. The suspect pulled a shotgun from his bag, said “F— Urban Alchemy,” and then shot Alexander at close range, the organization said. Alexander was rushed to San Francisco General Hospital, where doctors worked for three days to save his life.
Truck driver killed in single-vehicle crash on I-95 near Newark
Delaware — A dump truck driver was killed in a single-vehicle crash on I-95, according to Delaware State Police. The crash occurred just before the Churchmans Road underpass on I-95 south about 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 29, police said. The truck abruptly braked and swerved into the center concrete median, which threw the driver, police said. The driver was a 46-year-old man from Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania. Police said he was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash. He will not be identified until family is notified.
Tractor trailer truck driver killed in Cherokee County crash
Cherokee County, GA — A tractor trailer truck driver has died in a single-vehicle crash on Highway 372 in Cherokee County’s Free Home area, the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office reports. The sheriff’s office reports that the accident occurred at about 11:40 a.m. Tuesday. “Preliminary indications are that the tractor trailer left the roadway, struck a utility pole and overturned,” CSO Capt. Jay Baker said in an email. The driver of the tractor trailer died at the scene. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Contractor dies in accident at Eastern Kentucky University
RICHMOND, Ky. (FOX 56) — A contractor died on Tuesday after an incident on the job at Eastern Kentucky University’s campus. The coroner confirms that 61-year-old Edwin Burton II, of Illinois, died while working in the basement of Telford Hall when an air conditioner unit fell, killing him.
TN Firefighter Dies on Duty
Bristol, TN — A firefighter with the Bristol (TN) Fire Department passed away Wednesday while on duty, according to reports. On October 1, 2025, Firefighter/Paramedic Brandon Clawson died while on duty at Fire Station 4, the city announced on its social media platform. Clawson first joined the department in February 2018, bringing with him years of previous emergency medical experience, as he was also a member of the Church Hill Rescue Squad and Carter’s Valley Volunteer Fire Department. No details were provded as to the nature of his death, although WHJL reported that it was due to a medical episode.
Semi crash claims one life in Knox County
VINCENNES, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— Knox County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a single semi wreck on Tuesday afternoon that killed one man. According to a news release from the Knox County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to U.S. 41 South and Schenk Drive for a single-vehicle accident. When deputies arrived on the scene, they found a semi with a trailer loaded with coal on its side in a nearby cornfield. The news release states that the semi was traveling south on U.S. Highway 41 when it crossed the median and both northbound lanes of the highway before crashing into an embankment and coming to rest in a cornfield on its side. Knox County Sheriff’s Department added that preliminary investigation revealed that the driver may have suffered a medical issue before the crash. The semi driver was identified as a 48-year-old man of West Salem, Illinois, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Feds investigating accident that killed 79-year-old worker at Palm Harbor Homes
San Antonio, TX — Federal safety regulators are investigating the death of a 79-year-old worker at a manufactured home dealership – the second workplace death involving an older worker in as many weeks. According to San Antonio Police Department and Bexar County medical examiner, Frank Ramirez Perez’s truck rolled over him just before 5 a.m. after he opened the gate at Palm Harbor Homes at 19910 Interstate 37 South i n Elmendorf. He was returning to the truck when it began to roll backward. He entered the vehicle to stop it but “fell out … and the vehicle rolled over him causing life threatening injuries,” according to a police report. Ramirez was able to call 911 for help but police said he “ultimately succumbed to his injuries” and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Wisconsin DNR forester killed by lightning strike to be honored Saturday
MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Flags across Wisconsin will be lowered Saturday to honor the Wisconsin DNR forester who was killed by a lightning strike last month. Adam Zirbel, 48, was born and raised in Wisconsin, graduated from UW-Stevens Point and served as a forester and wildland firefighter for 24 years. According to the governor’s office, Zirbel helped plant millions of trees in Kettle Moraine State Forest’s Northern Unit and was a member of various state incident management teams. He also taught many DNR courses. Zirbel died while working in the New Fane Trail area on September 22, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Chowchilla Police Officer Killed in On-Duty Crash
Chowchilla, CA — A Chowchilla police officer was killed late Friday after being involved in an on-duty traffic collision, authorities said. Despite the quick response of first responders, the officer died at the scene from injuries sustained in the crash, the Chowchilla Police Department said in a statement Saturday. The California Highway Patrol, working with the Chowchilla Police Department, is investigating the circumstances of the collision. Officials have not released the officer’s name to allow the family time to grieve. Mayor Kelly Smith says Ray Barrantes was the Chowchilla police officer in the marked Ford Explorer that collided with a Freightliner attempting to cross State Route 152 at the intersection of Road 13 in Madera County.
Truck driver killed in rollover crash in Central NY
Rome, N.Y. – A semi-truck driver died Friday morning in a rollover crash in Oneida County. At approximately 8:45 a.m., the truck was traveling west on Route 49 when the driver lost control on an exit ramp to Martin Street in Rome, according to a news release from the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. The truck drifted off the left side of the exit ramp before it collided with a guide rail in the area of a bridge that crosses a small creek. The truck then rolled over the guide rail. The cab of the truck came to rest upside down. The driver died on the scene. No other injuries were reported. The truck belonged to Real Deal Landscaping out of Cold Brook. It was a “dump-style trailer loaded with stone type material,” deputies said.
Suspect in fatal Mattydale Express shooting dies by self-inflicted gunshot wound
SALINA, N.Y. — The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office has named the victim and suspect of the shooting at Mattydale Express on the morning of Sept. 28. The sheriff’s office identified the victim as Emad Alharbi, 31, of North Syracuse. The suspect was identified as Alec Greiger, 30, of Mitchell Avenue in Salina. Previous reporting by CNY Central indicates that Alharbi was the storeowner of Mattydale Express. Authorities said deputies responded to Greiger’s address and tried to get him to exit the residence peacefully. However, the sheriff’s office reported that Greiger died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the home. Deputies responded to Mattydale Express around 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 28 for a report of a fatal shooting. The sheriff’s office determined that Greiger entered it and tried to steal merchandise but shot Alharbi multiple times, killing him. Alharbi was pronounced dead at Upstate University Hospital.
Semi-Truck Driver Killed in Fiery Crash on I-215 in San Bernardino
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (VVNG.com) — A fiery crash involving a semi-truck resulted in the death of the driver and major traffic disruption early Thursday morning on the southbound I-215 Freeway near Orange Show Road. The incident was first reported at approximately 1:56 a.m. on October 2, 2025, when callers stated a vehicle was on fire and possibly involved in a crash. Moments later, additional reports confirmed that a semi-truck was fully engulfed and debris was scattered across multiple lanes. One reporting party advised that the vehicle was “in pieces” and stated that the “big rig hit a pole and twisted,” according to CHP logs. At 2:12 a.m., the California Highway Patrol reclassified the incident from a vehicle fire to a fatality, indicating the driver was trapped inside the burning vehicle, according to the CHP log.
Employee fatally shot at Fort Worth gas station, police say
FORT WORTH, Texas — An employee was shot and killed at a gas station in Fort Worth Friday night, police say. Police responded to the gas station in the 1400 block of Eastchase Parkway, near I-30, shortly before 9 p.m., after the adult male employee was shot, officials say. Medical personnel arrived on scene and declared the man dead, police say. The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victim as 28-year-old Chandrashekar Pole.
Skydiving Instructor Dies in Fall Without Parachute in Nashville
Nashville, TN — One person is dead and another was rescued during a tragic skydiving incident in Tennessee. Firefighters responded to reports of a skydiver in distress on Oct. 4, the Nashville Fire Department said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The man was stuck in a tree with an open parachute in a wooded area, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department said in a post on X. In an update, the fire department said the jumper was rescued and freed from a harness after being stuck for hours. He was helped down a ladder and was in stable condition. Police said the man had been separated from a tandem rig, which is a parachute system, with an instructor. “The instructor is presumed to have fallen from the sky without a parachute,” police said. The instructor was not located right away, but an update from police said the 35-year-old instructor was found dead in a wooded area.