How workers died last week: Airplane crash, suicides, lawnmower, trapped in machinery, firefighting, electrocutions, 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.
14 killed by UPS plane crash in Louisville
Louisville, KY — A UPS plane crashed at Louisville’s international airport on Tuesday, causing an explosion, dangerous plumes of smoke and a sprawling fire. As of Wednesday morning, at least 12 people are dead and 15 injured, and at least 16 people are still missing. Thirteen people have been discharged from UofL Health and two remain in critical condition in the ICU. Fourteen people are dead, including all three crew members, and that number is not expected to climb. At least a dozen were hospitalized with injuries. The pilots on board have been identified as Captain Richard Wartenberg (of Independence, KY), First Officer Lee Truitt (of Albuquerque, NM), International Relief Officer Captain Dana Diamond (of Caldwell, TX). Three employees of Grade A Auto were also killed, according to CEO Sean Garber: John Loucks, 52, Megan Washburn, 35 and an unnamed victim. Heavy equipment operator John Loucks. He was known as John Boy. He was a The cargo plane crashed around 5:15 p.m. as it was taking off from SDF, heading toward Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu, Hawaii. The plane is an MD-11, 34 years old built in the early 90s. After being cleared for takeoff, a large fire developed in the left wing, said Todd Inman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board, which is leading the investigation. The NTSB will now try to determine what caused the fire and why the engine fell off. It will likely take investigators more than a year to answer those questions. The plane gained enough altitude to clear the fence at the end of the runway before crashing just outside Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, Inman told reporters. Airport security video “shows the left engine detaching from the wing during the takeoff roll,” he said.
Allen Park postal worker was stuck in machine for hours before firefighters found body
ALLEN PARK, Mich. – An Allen Park postal worker was stuck in a machine for hours before firefighters found his body, they said. The discovery was made Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at a United States Postal Service facility in Allen Park. Officials said the man’s wife called police to tell them that he hadn’t returned home from work. Firefighters went to the facility and found him stuck in the mail handling machine. He had been dead for 6-8 hours before firefighters got there, according to authorities. The Allen Park facility is a network distribution center, a large mail processing facility with many large machines. Police are calling the man’s death “accidental,” and the investigation is ongoing. The man’s wife told Local 4 that she didn’t call. She said she stood outside the facility for three hours before she got any help.
Postal worker killed in Pickens County crash
ALICEVILLE, Ala. (WTVA) — A postal worker died in a Tuesday afternoon crash in Pickens County. Pickens County Coroner Chad Harless identified the victim as April Box, 57, of Aliceville. The crash happened shortly after noon on Highway 17 near Aliceville. Her postal truck and a pickup truck collided, and she died at the scene of the crash.
Veteran FDNY firefighter Patrick Brady dies battling all-hands blaze in Brooklyn
New York, NY — A city firefighter from a family of FDNY Bravest tragically died while battling an all-hands blaze in Brooklyn on Saturday night, officials said. Married firefighter Patrick Brady, 42, died of a heart attack while responding to an inferno that erupted around 9:38 p.m. at a six-story apartment building on Kings Highway in Brownsville, Mayor Eric Adams and FDNY Commissioner Robert Tucker announced late Saturday. “He gave his life protecting this city that he loves and there is no sacrifice that is more selfless than the actions that took place this evening,” Adams told reporters of the fallen Queens fireman.
IATSE Mourns James “Trapper” McEvoy, Crew Member Killed In “Tragic Incident” On New Orleans Set
New Orleans, LA — IATSE is mourning the loss of crew member James “Trapper” McEvoy, who died in a tragic accident on the set of a New Orleans-area film production Monday. McEvoy, a grip who also was a member of IATSE Local 478, died of electrocution, a spokesperson for the Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office confirmed to Deadline. The result is preliminary pending the results of toxicology tests as possible contributing factors. Details of exactly what happened are scarce, but we hear McEvoy was in a lift and hit an electrical line.
Man dies after lawnmower accident in Bryan County
BRYAN COUNTY, Okla. (KXII) – A man has died after being involved in a lawnmower accident on Tuesday. The accident happened off North First Avenue near the Lindenwood apartments in Durant. Police say Jose Serrano, 22, was part of a lawn care crew mowing the property mowing in a ditch when witnesses tell KXII 12 the mower rolled over on him. Serrano was pronounced dead on the scene.
LG&E line technician killed while working on power line in Oldham County
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Louisville Gas and Electric is mourning the loss of a “friend and co-worker” who was killed on the job Thursday. Company spokesperson Liz Pratt said the line technician was working to reconductor a power line in Oldham County when they were killed. “This is a tragic loss for our entire LG&E and KU workforce, and our hearts are heavy for his family and all who knew him,” Pratt’s statement continued. “We are performing a thorough investigation to better understand factors that contributed to this situation and how it occurred.” He has not yet been identified.
Miami-Dade deputy fatally shot during altercation, prompting massive police response
Miami, FL–A Miami-Dade deputy was shot and killed during an altercation Friday while responding to a car crash, leading to a massive police response. Deputy Devin Jaramillo, 27, was shot while responding to a car crash and was taken to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz said at a news conference, adding the deputy was “brutally attacked, and he was murdered.”
State Police investigating after Marcy prison employee dies from self-inflicted gunshot
MARCY, N.Y. – A prison staff member has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at Marcy Correctional Facility. The NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Facebook account. The person who died was a civilian employee of the prison, and not an officer. The gun used belonged to the employee.
Airport officer who took his life while on duty identified
DOTHAN, Ala. (WTVY) – A Dothan Airport police officer took his life this morning, according to airport officials. Officer Glen Ketchum’s body was found in a lot a few yards south of the terminal when paramedics arrived at the scene. He was shot, with Dale County Coroner John Cawley identifying him publicly.
Michigan Sugar employee dies after being struck by payloader
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — An employee at Michigan Sugar in Michigan’s Thumb region has died after being struck by a payloader. According to the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration, a 41-year-old mechanic was struck while working Tuesday. He suffered “severe injuries.” Officials from the Croswell Police Department say they reported to the piling ground in Sanilac County. Emergency personnel tried lifesaving measures, but the worker ultimately died from his injuries. “This remains an active and ongoing investigation being led by Croswell Police Department in cooperation with Michigan Sugar Safety Department,” CPD said in a news release. Michigan Sugar is a conglomerate of former local growers that date back to 1897. Now, it is the state’s only remaining sugar company and the third largest in the United States. The company represents 865 local growers and produces more than a billion pounds of sugar each year.
Semi truck bypassed runaway ramp on Wolf Creek Pass before fatal plummet down embankment
Wolf Creek Pass, CO — A truck driver lost his life in a crash caused by suspected brake failure on Wolf Creek Pass on Monday morning, according to the Colorado State Patrol (CSP). Troopers responded to the crash at 8:21 a.m. on November 3 on Highway 160 (Wolf Creek Pass) at approximately mile marker 161, north of Pagosa Springs, Colorado. A 23 year old New York resident was operating a 2020 Freightliner hauling a load of canned drinks south on Highway 160 when the truck hit the barrier on the right side of the wall and glanced off. The Freightliner crashed through the guardrail on left side of the highway and fell down a steep embankment. Troopers said that the truck and trailer were destroyed in the fall down the embankment. The truck driver was ejected and died at the scene. “The initial investigation revealed that the semi was traveling at an excessive speed, with smoke coming from the brakes, and that the driver failed to take the runaway truck ramp 1.5 miles before the crash,” CSP said.
Utility worker fatally struck while directing traffic in Bella Vista
BELLA VISTA, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — The utility worker who was struck on Nov. 7 along Lancashire Boulevard near Burton Lane has died, according to his family. The family has confirmed the utility worker’s identity as James “Keaton” Lawson, 30. The incident occurred when Lawson was struck while directing traffic, according to the Bella Vista Police Department. He was hospitalized following the collision. Family confirmed that Lawson passed away on Nov. 8. The family requests privacy at this time and asks for prayers for Lawson’s surviving daughter and loved ones.
WakeMed Garner Healthplex Shooting
GARNER, N.C. — A campus police officer was shot and killed Saturday morning at the WakeMed Garner Healthplex located off U.S. Highway 70. WakeMed Campus Police Officer Roger Smith, 59, was killed in the line of duty in the emergency department lobby of WakeMed Garner Healthplex. WakeMed staff said Officer Smith was shot after “a struggle ensued” in the emergency department’s lobby. Medical personnel at the scene said Officer Smith was a hero whose actions likely prevented more deaths. Officers with the Garner Police Department said the suspect, Benji Martin Jr., 29, of Garner, has been charged with murder in connection with Officer Smith’s death. At this time, no mugshot has been released for Martin. Garner police said Martin is in the hospital after being shot during the struggle inside the hospital lobby. Police said the circumstances surrounding his injuries remains under active investigation.
West Virginia State Police identify truck driver killed in Sunday I-79 crash
LOST CREEK, W.Va. — A single-vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer on Interstate 79 southbound Sunday resulted in the fatality of the driver. Ronald Blair Porrin, the sole occupant of the truck, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, according to the West Virginia State Police. The midday accident occurred near the 110-mile marker in the Lost Creek area of Harrison County. The preliminary investigation indicated the vehicle traveled off the right side of the roadway over an embankment.
Hinds County deputy is shot to death in Jackson
Hinds County, MS — The death of a Hinds County sheriff’s deputy over the weekend in south Jackson is being investigated as a homicide. Sgt. James Dotson Jr., 32, died Sunday evening at a home on the 1700 block of Dorgan Street from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Hinds County Coroner’s Office. Jackson police spokesman Tommie Brown said no suspects had been arrested by midday Monday, and the investigation remains active as detectives interview witnesses and locate surveillance video. The department is encouraging people to reach out with tips, which may lead to a cash reward.
Martin Morales Killed in Workplace Accident on Blue Mound Road at Auto Shop in Fort Worth
Fort Worth, TX – A man was killed on Tuesday in a workplace accident at a Fort Worth auto shop, according to the police. The deadly accident happened on November 4 at the Alignments Abel auto shop in the 5300 block of Blue Mound Road. Police said Martin Garcia Morales was working at the auto shop when he was involved in an accident. He sustained blunt force injuries on the torso and died in the accident. No further details were provided. The police are investigating the accident.
Danbury Man Killed By His Own Construction Truck
DANBURY, CT — A 62-year-old Danbury man died Thursday evening after being struck by his own commercial vehicle on Hawleyville Road near Exit 9, according to Newtown police. The preliminary investigation described the incident as a “fatal crash.” Police said Valdemir Santana was operating a commercial truck towing construction equipment northbound on Hawleyville Road around 6:16 p.m. when he stopped on the northbound shoulder and got out of the vehicle. Moments later, the truck and trailer began rolling forward and struck him, investigators said. Bystanders who witnessed the incident attempted life-saving measures before first responders arrived, but Santana was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The Newtown Police Department’s Detective Division and Accident Reconstruction Team responded to investigate. Authorities said there is no indication that any other vehicles were involved.
Police identify construction worker killed in Parma crash
Parma, N.Y. — The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office has released the identity of a construction worker who was fatally struck by a vehicle. Robert Faber, 43, of Rochester was working at the site of a road closure near the intersection of Parma Center and Bailey roads Wednesday afternoon when a vehicle came crashing through the work zone barriers and hit a parked work truck that then struck Faber, according to Amy Young with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. First responders performed CPR on Faber at the scene before he was taken to a local hospital, where he died from his injuries. Young said no charges have been filed in connection to the crash but the investigation remains ongoing. She did not clarify if the striking vehicle stayed at the scene.
Walmart Employee Dies After Shoplifting Incident in Upstate New York
Wilton, NY – A shoplifting incident at an Upstate New York Walmart has ended tragically, as an employee of the Wilton, NY Walmart has died after a suspect allegedly struck him with his vehicle. Back on October 16th, 2025, the New York State Police (NYSP) reported that Troopers were dispatched to the Walmart in Wilton, NY, for the report of a disturbance. As Troopers made their way to the store, they were advised that two pedestrians had been intentionally struck by a vehicle. Upon arrival, Troopers began an investigation that revealed a suspect had been stopped by Walmart employees while attempting to leave the store with merchandise he didn’t pay for. Police said that the suspect, later identified as 34-year-old Timothy W. Besaw, of Gansevoort, NY, dropped some of the merchandise he was allegedly trying to steal but still left the store wearing merchandise he didn’t pay for. Once out of the store, Besaw remained in the parking lot and began arguing with a Walmart employee. Soon after, he entered a vehicle and reportedly intentionally drove it into two store employees who were standing near the store’s entrance. Both employees at the store sustained serious injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment. Sadly, a few weeks later, on November 3, 2025, the NYSP announced that one of the victims struck by the vehicle, 69-year-old Michael Bushey, of Saratoga Springs, NY, had died at Albany Medical Center.
Cleaning lady fatally shot in front of husband after couple arrived at wrong house for job
Whitestown, IN — A mom of four from Indiana was gunned down after arriving at the wrong address for her cleaning job — and her grieving husband, who watched her die, is demanding justice. Maria Florinda Ríos Pérez, 32, was shot dead just before 7 a.m. Wednesday as she and her husband, Mauricio Velázquez, arrived at a Whitestown home they’d been hired to clean, IndyStar reported. The couple, who are self-employed cleaners, checked the address twice and circled the neighborhood — a tiny suburb about 22 miles from downtown Indianapolis — to make sure they were in the right place, the report said. As they tried to get the keys they’d been provided into the door of the stately home — and Pérez teased her fumbling husband and grabbed the keyring from him — a single shot rang out, and the mother dropped bleeding to the ground.
One Dead, Two Hospitalized in Vanderbilt LifeFlight Crash in TN
Nashville, TN — One crew member was killed and two others critically hurt in a LifeFlight helicopter crash Saturday afternoon, according to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “Vanderbilt University Medical Center is deeply saddened to confirm that a Vanderbilt LifeFlight helicopter was involved in an accident this afternoon in Wilson County,” the medical center said in a statement. “Three crew members were on board. Tragically, one crew member lost their life and two others are in critical condition and receiving care at Vanderbilt University Hospital.” The three crew members have not been identified. No patients were on board the helicopter. The crash occurred in a rural area of Wilson County.
Identity of Tucker mining accident victim released
DAVIS, WV – The identity of a coal miner killed in an early-morning mining accident Thursday in Tucker County has been released. Joey Mitchell Jr. was killed and another person was injured in the accident, which occurred at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday at Mettiki Coal’s Mountain View Mine, according to reports.
Tree Trimmer, 49, Pronounced Dead After Being Found Suspended 30 Feet Above Ground Near High-Voltage Power Lines
Los Angeles, CA — A tree trimmer is dead after he was found suspended in a tree below high-voltage power lines in Los Angeles, officials said. On Wednesday, Nov. 5, firefighters responded at 1:33 p.m. local time to 9349 Kirkside Road in Beverlywood and discovered a tree trimmer suspended about 30 feet above the ground and approximately six to eight feet below high-voltage power lines, the Los Angeles Fire Department said in a news release. The city’s water and power agency then proceeded to shut down power in the area. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, the fire department said. He was later identified as 49-year-old Javier Lopez Mila of Los Angeles, the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to PEOPLE. Officials did not confirm if touching the power lines caused the man’s death. Workers in the tree-trimming industry have among the largest numbers of workplace electrical fatalities, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation. Of these work-related deaths, 84% happen when tree trimmers come in contact with overhead power lines.
Garbage Truck Driver Killed in Crash
Suffolk County, NY — Suffolk County Police Third Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that killed a man in East Islip. On November 6 at 11:48 a.m., Xavier Angulo Espinoza was driving a garbage truck eastbound on Sunrise Highway Service Road, near Southern State Parkway, when he lost control of the vehicle, causing it to overturn. Espinoza, 45, of Central Islip, was pronounced dead at the scene.
2 Amtrak workers killed, 116 hurt in South Carolina crash
CAYCE, S.C. (AP) — An Amtrak passenger train slammed into a freight train parked on a side track in South Carolina early Sunday, killing two Amtrak employees and injuring more than 110 people, authorities said. It was the third deadly wreck involving Amtrak in less than two months. The Silver Star was on its way from New York to Miami with nearly 150 people aboard around 2:45 a.m. when it plowed into the CSX train at an estimated 59 mph, Gov. Henry McMaster said. The crash happened around a switchyard about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Columbia. The governor said investigators have yet to determine how the Amtrak train ended up on that stretch of track. “The CSX was on the track it was supposed to be on,” McMaster said.
Cement truck driver dies after crashing in Atlanta
ATLANTA, GA — A cement truck driver has died after crashing in Atlanta early Wednesday morning. Investigators say the cement truck was traveling north on Marietta Boulevard when the driver suddenly veered off of the road, hit an electric pole, went over the divider and landed on its side in an embankment off of the 2200 block of Marietta Boulevard. The man was rescued from the truck and rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital where he later died.
Self-Storage Employee Fatally Shot During Argument With Tenant
Covina, CA — An employee was shot and killed by a tenant during an argument on Sunday at a Covina, California, self-storage facility. The incident at One Stop Storage happened around 5:30 p.m., according to sources. The victim was identified as 44-year-old Patricia Villa. A witness told investigators that they saw what appeared to be an argument between Villa and a man later identified as Juan Nava, 66, who believed items were being stolen from his self-storage unit at 1432 N. Barranca Ave. The shooting happened after the witness left the property. After Villa’s family hadn’t heard from her on Sunday, they went to the storage facility and found her suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Covina Police Department officers and Los Angeles County Fire Department crews responded just before 1 a.m. Villa was unresponsive and declared deceased.
CVS worker killed in North Kansas City shooting
NORTH KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The person who was killed in a shooting at CVS in North Kansas City on Thursday has been identified as an employee, according to NKC police. Rusty A. Donovan, a 42-year-old from Kansas City, was shot and killed around 3 p.m. at the store located at 1914 Swift Street in North Kansas City, Missouri. The North Kansas City Police Department said officers responded and found Donovan dead at the scene. Police arrested Antonio Serrano in connection with the shooting. Serrano has been charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action and unlawful possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Serrano entered the store just after 3 p.m. He shot Donovan multiple times.
3 employees killed in shooting at landscape supply business in San Antonio
San Antonio, TX — Three employees were fatally shot Saturday at a landscape supply business in northeast San Antonio, officials said, and the suspect was later found dead. The shooting occurred in the morning hours at a business on the northeast side of the city. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus told reporters in a briefing Saturday morning that the three people killed, two men and a woman, were employees of the business. It’s unclear if the suspect was an employee as well. No names have been released. “We understand there may be others wounded, but we’re not sure right now,” McManus disclosed. Investigators did not have a motive, but McManus said that the shooting was “not random” in nature, and indicated the suspect and victims knew each other.