How workers died last week: Logging, tree care, electrocution, fall, drowning, 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.
Dad of 3 Dies After Being Electrocuted While Helping Farmer Who Struck Power Lines
McHenry County, IL — A 42-year-old father of three is dead after he was electrocuted while trying to help a farmer in northern Illinois. On Monday, Oct. 27, authorities responded to a call around 5:17 p.m. local time following a report of farm equipment hitting a power line near County Line Road in McHenry County, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release shared on Facebook. When they arrived, officials learned that a 56-year-old man was operating a John Deere tractor pulling a grain cart near a ditch that was close to the roadway. The farmer was trying to offload grain into a semi-truck parked on the road. That’s when the chute attached to the grain cart hit the overhead power lines, causing them to fall down. After the “energized power lines” hit the tractor, the semi-truck operator, a man from Woodstock, tried to approach and get on the tractor. He was electrocuted and died at the scene, the sheriff’s office said. The 56-year-old tractor driver was transported to a nearby medical center, where he was determined to be in “fair condition.” The victim who died has been identified as 42-year-old Dante Rico Cruz, the McHenry County Coroner said in a news release shared with PEOPLE.
Skid steer driver killed in crash with train in Pierce County, Wisconsin
Pierce County, WI — Pierce County authorities said a 72-year-old skid steer driver was killed Wednesday after his vehicle was hit by a train. According to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, Randy Anderson of Hager City, Wis., was driving a Bobcat skid steer, attempting to cross a private railway crossing when he was struck by a southbound BNSF train. Anderson was declared dead at the crash site by the Pierce County Medical Examiner. Authorities did not state if the railroad crossing near County Road OO and State Road 35 in Diamond Bluff Township had warning signage.
One dead, two firefighters injured in fire at Upstate Shredding in Owego
OWEGO, N.Y. (WBNG) — One person is dead after a major fire at Upstate Shredding in Owego. The company’s owner, Adam Weitsman, says on Facebook that an electrical fire started in the motor room of the shredding facility. The fire “took the life of a valued and beloved teammate,” Weitsman said. According to Campville Assistant Fire Chief Christopher Fuller, the call came in at 5:51pm Thursday evening. Crews showed up to a working building fire, before putting it out approximately 40 minutes after arriving. According to Fuller, two firefighters were taken to the hospital for evaluation. Crews from Campville, Newark Valley, Owego, State Police, and more all responded. Officials say the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Truck driver killed after being run over by co-driver while checking for mechanical issue
Sweetwater County, WY — The Wyoming Highway Patrol (WHP) responded to a fatality crash involving team truck drivers in Sweetwater County earlier this month. The incident occurred just before 8 p.m. on October 14, 2025, on I-80 at mile marker 137 near Rock Springs, Wyoming. According to a WHP fatality crash summary, Texas-based truck driver Idris Kirgin, 28, lost his life when he was struck by his own truck. “The driver of the commercial vehicle exited to inspect a possible mechanical issue. His co-driver then got into the driver’s seat, released the brakes, and moved forward about thirty feet. The original driver was run over by the trailer’s dual tires,” WHP said. The co-driver was not injured. WHP lists driver inattention as a possible contributing factor in the fatal crash.
Ohio man crushed after vehicle slips off lift in apparent workplace accident
STEUBENVILLE, Ohio (WKRC) – A man was crushed after officials say a vehicle slipped off a lift on Thursday. According to WTRF, first responders were called to the rear parking lot of Donnie’s Towing and Tires in Steubenville, Ohio after receiving a report of an accident. It was described as an apparent workplace accident, WTRF reported. Upon arriving at the scene, authorities discovered a man crushed under a vehicle, according to the outlet. Officials speaking with WTRF’s reporters said the man’s injuries were extreme, and that he was pronounced dead at the scene. According to the outlet’s report, officials said it appeared the car slipped off a lift, and trapped him beneath. The Jefferson County Coroner responded to the scene, and an investigation was launched by the Steubenville Police Department, per the report.
72-year-old man killed while trimming tree in Rockland, 1 seriously hurt
ROCKLAND, MASS. (WHDH) – A 72-year-old man was killed and another person was seriously hurt after they fell from a tree in Rockland while trimming it, according to officials. Officials said the two Brentwood Arms Condominium Complex maintenance workers fell more than 40 feet to the ground at approximately 11 a.m. Investigators were focused on a boom lift that was fully extended Monday. “We were called in for reports of two individuals that had fallen out of a lift,” David Cowings said, Rockland Fire Captain. “They were cutting trees and somehow fell out of the lift.” Both were rushed to South Shore Hospital where a 72-year-old man was pronounced dead, according to the Plymouth County District Attorney.
2 shot dead at Tennessee plastics plant
Cleveland, TN — Two employees of a plastics maker were fatally shot Monday morning in Cleveland, Tennessee, authorities said. The two men killed at Barku Plastics were Tobias Gleinig and Ivan Aldergot, police said in a statement. Both were supervisors at the plant and citizens of Germany, Cleveland Police Capt. Evie West said at a news conference Monday night. “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families, friends, and coworkers of Mr. Gleinig and Mr. Aldergot during this tragic time,” Cleveland police said in a statement. Barku is a subsidiary of Barku Kunststofftechnik, a plastics producer established in Germany in 1977, which confirmed the “violent deaths” of Gleinig and Aldergot in a statement. “We are all deeply affected by this senseless act,” the holding company said in the statement. “During this difficult time, our thoughts and sincere condolences are with the families, friends, and colleagues of Ivan and Tobias. We remember them with respect and gratitude for everything they contributed to our team and our company.” Officers responding to reports of gunfire shortly before 10:30 a.m. found the two dead, the department said.
San Bernardino sheriff’s deputy shot and killed in Rancho Cucamonga, suspect injured after pursuit crash
Rancho Cucamonga, CA — A deputy with the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department was shot and killed by a man while responding to an alleged domestic violence incident in Rancho Cucamonga on Monday, authorities confirmed. The deputy was identified as 6-year department veteran Andrew Nunez. San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said during a news conference Monday afternoon that Nunez is survived by his 2-year-old daughter and his wife, who is pregnant. The incident was first reported at about 12:37 p.m. on the 12300 block of Hollycock in Rancho Cucamonga, when deputies responded to reports of a man threatening a woman, the department confirmed. The man allegedly fired his weapon at deputies immediately upon their arrival at 12:42 p.m. A deputy, later identified as Nunez, was struck in the head by the gunfire and airlifted to a local hospital.
Truck driver killed in PA Turnpike crash in Beaver County.
Big Beaver, PA — An Ohio man died Oct. 26 when the semi-truck he was driving crashed along the westbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Big Beaver. Abdirahman Farah, 35, of Columbus, Ohio, was operating a Freightliner semi-truck traveling west along the Turnpike, near Shenango Road, when the accident occurred about 3:20 a.m., according to a Pennsylvania State Police report. The vehicle slowly veered off the highway, crossed the shoulder and traveled nearly 450 feet through a grassy area before striking a tree head-on, the report said. Farah was declared dead at the scene. Beaver County Coroner David Gabauer told The Times that Farah died from blunt force trauma to the head, neck, trunk and extremities. The death was ruled accidental.
Man dies after logging accident
FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WSAZ) – A logging accident yesterday resulted in the death of a man, according to the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office. On October 27 at approximately 10:45 a.m., deputies responded to the accident in the Wilson Creek community of Langley. An investigation found that Dusty Hall, 33, of Harold, was killed in the accident, deputies said. The accident is still under investigation by the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office and the Floyd County Coroner’s Office.
Roma city employee killed in rollover crash near Eagle Pass
MAVERICK COUNTY, Texas (ValleyCentral) — A Roma city employee was killed Friday in a rollover crash near Eagle Pass, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. According to DPS, a 2005 white Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck was traveling westbound on US 277, eight miles east of Eagle Pass, when the truck’s left rear tire blew out, causing it to swerve off the roadway into the north bar ditch. The truck overturned, ejecting three of its four passengers. The truck then struck a private fence and came to rest on its right side, according to a news release. The driver was taken to Fort Duncan Medical Center in Eagle Pass, and two passengers were airlifted from the scene to University Hospital in San Antonio. The third passenger, identified as 30-year-old Samantha Serna of Roma, was airlifted to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Serna was pronounced dead at the hospital. DPS troopers continue to investigate the fatal crash.
Man dies after fall from bridge in Dickenson County
DICKENSON COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) — A man died after falling roughly 40 feet at a Dickenson County construction site Monday, according to Dickenson County Sheriff Jeremy Fleming. Fleming told News Channel 11 the sheriff’s office was notified around 1:38 p.m. that a 23-year-old man fell from a bridge on a construction site near the intersection of Big Ridge Road and Haysi Main Street. The man fell approximately 40 feet onto a rocky area, Fleming stated. The man was transported to the Pikeville Medical Center by ambulance. He had sustained life-threatening injuries, and, according to Fleming, was pronounced dead at the hospital minutes after arriving. The man was identified as Dakota Skeene by members of the rescue squad, Fleming told News Channel 11.
Woman charged in DoorDash driver’s fatal hit & run
Columbus, Ohio — A Columbus, Ohio woman is facing multiple charges following a road rage incident which saw her running over a DoorDash driver and dragging the man under her car, causing the app worker’s death. Danielle Henry, Columbus, Ohio driver drags DoorDash driver, Ibrahim Diakite 300-600 feet to his death in road rage incident. Danielle Henry is alleged to have gotten into a skirmish on Wednesday, October 22, with DoorDash driver, Ibrahim Diakite after a minor fender bender incident at a Westerville shopping center parking lot. Investigators said the situation quickly escalated into road rage. At the time snafu, Henry had shoplifted and was driving a stolen car when she collided with Diakite. The DoorDash driver followed Henry out of the parking lot and proceeded to confront her, WBNS reported. Diakite was making food deliveries for DoorDash when Henry struck the worker’s vehicle. Witnesses reported Henry attempting to drive away only for Diakite to jump on top of the hood of her car according to Westerville Police Chief Holly Murchland.
Pike Electric lineman killed in hit-and-run crash in Johnston County
Johnston County, NC — A lineman with Pike Electric was killed during a hit-and-run in Johnston County, officials told WRAL Thursday. Just before 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, the State Highway Patrol said a flatbed truck carrying a water tank similar to a “septic tank” was traveling south on Live Oak Church Road and disregarded a stop signal given by traffic control personnel who were halting traffic due to low-hanging power lines. Repair technicians were working on the power lines as the truck traveled through the scene and became entangled with one of the low-hanging wires. This caused one of the repair technicians, James P. Rudzki, 29, of Wendell, to fall to the ground, resulting in fatal injuries. Another lineman was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The flatbed truck driver failed to remain at the scene and was last seen traveling south on Live Oak Church Road and turning onto Buffalo Road toward the town of Clayton.
Man dead after 18-wheeler goes into Opp lake
OPP, Ala. (WTVY) – An Abbeville man died Monday morning after a single-vehicle crash just north of Opp involving an 18-wheeler. Opp Police and Fire Departments arrived on scene at the intersection of U.S. Highway 331 and Covington County Road 38 at around 11:13 a.m., where first responders were able to immediately locate a log truck in the waters of Lake Frank Jackson upon arrival, with the cab submerged underwater. Recovery efforts quickly began, taking several hours and resulting in that section of US-331 to be closed to traffic during that time period. The roadway has since been reopened by the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT). The driver of the truck, later identified as 51-year-old Jerry P. Watford of Abbeville, was recovered and pronounced dead at the scene. According to OPD, initial findings indicate that Watford was traveling west on County Road 38 when the truck collided with the guardrail at the US-331 intersection and subsequently went into the lake.
Dive team searches for missing person after truck went into water at Miami-Dade industrial business site
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — First responders in Miami-Dade County are searching for the body of an industrial worker following an accident. According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, it happened at 13292 NW 118 Ave., which comes back as the address for both Halley Engineering Contractors, Inc. and CEMEX – FEC Quarry. Authorities said that both deputies and crews with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded Monday afternoon after receiving reports of a truck and operator who went into the water. After several hours, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said they had found the vehicle, but not the operator, and that their crews had cleared the scene and turned it over to the Medley Police Department as the incident was now in recovery status. However, on Tuesday, MDSO said that their divers were requested back to the scene to assist with the search for the person who went missing in the water.
Beer factory worker fatally stabbed co-worker in chest on their first day on the job
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (WKRC) – An employee at an Anheuser-Busch plant allegedly fatally stabbed his co-worker in the chest on the pair’s first day on the job. Patrol officers with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to an Anheuser-Busch plant at around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday after receiving a report of a stabbing. Upon arrival, first responders found 22-year-old Antoine Autry suffering from a stab wound to the chest. Autry was taken to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries shortly after. Witnesses said they heard Autry screaming that he had been stabbed and saw 38-year-old Jason Guthrie fleeing the area, according to local outlet NBC6. The witnesses said they did not know what led up to the stabbing. Authorities reported that Guthrie and Autry were contractors, and it was their first day on the job. Guthrie was arrested and charged with murder.
2 First Responders Killed in Crash at Oklahoma Drag Racing Event
Pittsburg County, Oklahoma — Three people were killed at H-Town Throwdown, a sanctioned drag racing event in Pittsburg County, Oklahoma, over the weekend following an initial event setup accident and a later mid-race incident in which a car reportedly veered off the drag strip and crashed into the area where first responders were staged, according to county officials and event organizers. McAlester / Pittsburg County Emergency Management officials confirmed that two first responders were killed in an accident at H-Town Throwdown on Saturday, November 1, and that another volunteer was killed on Friday, October 31, while “assisting in event preparation.” Eyewitness reports from YouTuber and drag racing regular 6Sixty Street allege that a car experienced a mechanical failure during a run and veered into the area where first responders were staged.County officials declined to detail the incident, citing respect for the deceased and privacy for their families.The identity of the volunteer who was killed on Friday, October 31, has been revealed to be Justin Faulkner, with his wife, Hartshorne mayor Ashely Faulkner.
New Mexico State Police officer shot and killed near Tucumcari
TUCUMCARI, NEW MEXICO (KVII) — A New Mexico State Police officer was shot and killed Friday morning near Tucumcari. State Police Officer Justin Hare was shot at about 5:30 a.m. on I-40.