How workers died last week: Bee attack, caught in chemical mixer, dough mixer and dip tank, hit be steel beam, grain bin suffocation, electrocution, shootings and 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.
Manufacturing Worker Succumbs to Wounds Weeks After Being Trapped in Chemical Mixer
YUMA, AZ — A factory worker died on January 11th in the hospital, a week after he suffered from a myriad of bruises, concussions, and chemical burns from cleaning a chemical mixer when it accidentally turned on. The worker, identified to be Jose Fernando Partida, 57, was cleaning the chemical mixer when a colleague jumped in to help him, accidentally turning on the machine in the process. While the colleague was able to get out eventually and shut the power off immediately, Jose was stuck for nearly 5 hours while rescuers fetched him out, citing chemical exposure as an added layer of difficulty in trying to extricate him as they necessitated the use of hazmat suits.
Two MaineDOT workers killed in crash on I-95 in Waterville
AUGUSTA, ME (WGME) — Two state workers are dead and another is injured after a horrific crash in Waterville Tuesday morning. State police say a Maine DOT crew had closed a southbound lane on I-95 to work on an overpass when a driver allegedly cut off a tractor-trailer truck before striking the workers. Governor Janet Mills said Tuesday that Maine DOT workers put themselves in harm’s way every day. State police say the DOT crew set up a temporary stop sign at the end of the southbound on-ramp, leading to a single lane on I-95, but it didn’t prevent a woman from driving into the path of a tractor-trailer. The two victims who were killed have been identified as Waterville residents James Brown, 60, and Dwayne Campbell, 51.
State worker killed during tree trimming on Route 38
MOORESTOWN, NJ — A state Department of Transportation arborist was killed Monday in South Jersey while working on Route 38, officials said. State officials released few details in a statement. “On Monday, Jan. 12 there was a tragic accident in which an NJDOT employee was killed during a tree trimming operation on Route 38 in Moorestown,” New Jersey Department of Transportation Spokesman Stephen Schapiro said. “The Department offers its heartfelt condolences to the family.” The incident is under investigation and no other details were released by the department on Tuesday. The employee was identified as James Doran, 34, of Burlington by his mother, Karen Davis.
Worker Killed By Steel Beam In Newark:
NEWARK, NJ — A worker was killed after a steel beam fell on him in Newark on Wednesday, Jan. 14, authorities said. At 6 p.m., police responded to the 100 block of Raymond Boulevard and found a man unresponsive after he had fallen from a truck while loading steel beams, Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda said. The man had accidentally fallen off the truck before one of the beams fell on him, fatally injuring him, Miranda said. The victim has not been identified.
Police identify gunman, victim in Gainesville hardware store killing
GAINESVILLE, FL — A man identified as Justin D. Long fatally shot a hardware store employee and wounded two police officers. The employee, Eduardo P. Rodriguez, 23, was reportedly chosen at random by the shooter. The two injured officers were treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released from the hospital. Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya on Jan. 15 shared with city commissioners the identity of the suspect in the fatal Jan. 14 shooting of a hardware store employee and of wounding two police officers. The shooter was identified as Justin D. Long, 31, who Moya said resided in the 300th block of County Road 234 in Alachua County. Moya also shared with commissioners the identity of the employee who was shot and killed inside the Imeca Lumbar & Hardware store at 1201 E. University Ave. He said the employee, Eduardo P. Rodriguez, 23, and Long had “little to no connection.” He said the shooting stemmed from a mental health issue. Two other officers immediately responded, and one of them was also shot. The other officer then shot and killed Long. The car belonging to the suspect in the fatal Imeca Lumber & Hardware shooting—who was later shot and killed by a GPD officer—is seen in the middle of East University Avenue on Jan. 14, 2026, in Gainesville. Two other officers were shot by the suspect and suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Both officers who were shot suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were released from UF Health Shands Hospital later that afternoon. Alachua County court records show Long was found guilty of felony battery in 2012.
OSHA investigating after Abbyland Foods employee killed in work-related incident
ABBOTSFORD, WI (WSAW) — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the death of an employee at Abbyland Foods Inc. on Wednesday, January 14th. According to a press release from the Colby-Abbotsford Police Department, the employee fell into a dip tank in the waste treatment facility. Central Fire and EMS personnel located the employee in the tank and determined they had died. The initial police investigation has found that the death was not suspicious and has been determined to be a work-related incident. The preliminary autopsy results indicate the death was a result of drowning.
Sheriff’s deputy killed, heroic K-9 shot during intensive search for suspect
HOUSTON, TX (AP) — A man fatally shot a Texas sheriff’s deputy Wednesday at a shopping plaza in Houston and then evaded officers for hours before shooting a K-9 that helped find him hiding under trash in a dumpster, authorities said. The 56-year-old suspect was then shot and killed by officers, ending an intensive afternoon search in the nation’s fourth-largest city following the killing of Jesus Vargas, a 17-year veteran of the Brazoria County sheriff’s department. The dog, named Rocky, was transported by helicopter for care and was in stable condition Wednesday evening, O’Connor said. Authorities said Vargas was trying to serve an arrest warrant Wednesday morning when the suspect opened fire on him. The suspect then fled the scene, setting off a large-scale search that included helicopters, K-9 units and multiple law enforcement agencies. Police identified the suspect as Robert Lee Davis, also known as Sean Christopher Davis. Davis had a warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Houston Police Department Chief Noe Diaz said. Vargas was married and had three children, Brazoria County Sheriff Bo Stallman, said.
Tree trimmer electrocuted near FM 2978 and Woodlands Pkwy in Montgomery Co., officials say
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TX — One worker died Tuesday afternoon due to an electrical shock along FM 2978, north of Woodlands Parkway in Montgomery County, according to officials. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office called the electrocution an industrial accident. CenterPoint Energy said it involved a tree trimmer hired by a third party who made contact with an electric infrastructure. Officials said recovery efforts were paused at about 1:30 p.m. as crews waited for power to be safely shut off. CenterPoint’s outage map showed about 1,500 customers were without power around 2 p.m., but the map shows power has since been restored.
Pastry chef dies in freak industrial dough mixer accident
MIAMI, FL (WKRC) — A 71-year-old pastry chef was killed in an industrial accident at a kosher grocery store in North Miami Beach, authorities said. Police identified the victim as Mordehay Grunberger, 71, who died Jan. 16 at the South Florida Kosher Market, according to local reports from the Miami Herald and NBC Miami. Officers responded to multiple 911 calls reporting an accident involving an industrial dough mixer, per North Miami Beach police spokeswoman Maria Pinillos. Authorities have not released the official cause of death or detailed circumstances surrounding the incident but said there were no signs of foul play. Grunberger, a Miami resident, was independently employed as a head pastry chef. His wife, Inna Gastman Maor, shared her grief in a Facebook post, writing that she had lost her “closest person,” “best friend,” and the father of their two sons.
Worker Deceased After Work Zone Crash In Dover
DOVER, NH — A Tilton man is deceased following a crash in an active work zone on Route 16. At 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, State Troopers assigned to the Troop A and Troop G barracks responded to a crash involving a vehicle and a worker within a construction zone on Route 16 in Dover. The preliminary investigation determined that one of the vehicles at the site, a 2020 Ford Super Duty pickup truck, driven by Ryan Prescott, 35, of Manchester, struck another worker while reversing. Life-saving measures were attempted by emergency responders on the worker who was hit, identified as Everett Martin, 65, of Tilton. However, Martin ultimately died as a result of injuries suffered in the collision. His family has been notified. Troopers were assisted on scene by members of the Dover Fire Department, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Construction worker killed, another hurt in crash on Crosby Freeway in NE Harris County
HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A construction worker died, and another was seriously injured after a driver swerved into them on the Crosby Freeway in northeast Harris County, according to deputies. Deputies responded to the crash in the 3000 block of the Crosby Freeway on Friday night. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said a 21-year-old man was driving northbound when, for an unknown reason, he swerved into the work site and hit two construction workers. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said one lane was closed and the other was partially blocked while workers were removing pavement lane markings during the accident. Deputy M. Chagoya with HCSO said both workers were rushed to the hospital by LifeFlight, where one was pronounced dead, and the other was reportedly critically injured. According to Gonzalez, the worker who died was 32 years old, and the injured worker is 40.
Security guard dies after early morning struggle with suspect on West Side
SAN ANTONIO, TX — A security guard has died after getting into a physical struggle with a suspect early Saturday morning. Officers were called just after 5 a.m. to the 6800 block of Military Drive West for an assault in progress. Police say a security guard was struggling with a female suspect who had previously been trespassing at the location. The guard was struck multiple times during the struggle and while officers were interviewing him, he fell face down onto the pavement, police said. The 57-year-old man was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The suspect was detained. The investigation remains ongoing.
28-year-old snow plow driver dies after being pinned under vehicle in Southfield
SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (FOX 2) – A 28-year-old Canton man died Friday afternoon after becoming pinned beneath his vehicle in a Southfield parking lot, police said. Southfield police officers responded around 4:30 p.m. to a death investigation in the parking lot in the 19000 block of West 12 Mile Road. When officers arrived, they found the man trapped underneath his vehicle. Police said the man, a snow plow driver, appeared to have been servicing his vehicle when a piece of equipment fell and pinned him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Semi-truck driver dies after strong winds tip over vehicle on I-80
Weston, IA — A semi-truck tipped over on Interstate 80 in Iowa as winter weather moved through the area, killing one person. The crash occurred on I-80 westbound at mile marker 12, south of Weston. According to a crash report from the Iowa State Patrol, the semi-truck was hit with strong winds, which caused the driver, identified as 56-year-old Mark Hayden, to lose control and go off the roadway. Hayden then tried to regain control of the vehicle, but it tipped over on the driver’s side into the median, striking a cable barrier.
Man identified in fatal grain bin accident in Devils Lake
RAMSEY COUNTY, N.D. (Valley News Live) – A 34-year-old Leeds man, Enrique Perez, died Jan. 14 after becoming trapped in a grain bin at the CHS elevator located at 3919 14th Street West in Ramsey County. Emergency personnel found Perez engulfed in a grain pit full of corn. Despite extensive rescue efforts, including corn removal and specialized extraction procedures, Perez was pronounced deceased at the scene. A preliminary investigation indicates the incident was accidental, and no foul play is suspected. Authorities determined that Perez was not wearing the proper safety harness when he entered the grain pit. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office reminds all agricultural workers to adhere to grain bin safety protocols and always use appropriate safety equipment.
Man dies following skid steer accident on Georgia farm
ELBERT COUNTY, Ga. — A 72-year-old man has died following a farm accident involving a skid steer in north Georgia, according to the sheriff’s office. Elbert County Coroner Chuck Almond identified the victim as George Elbert King, of Abingdon, Va. The accident happened just before 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday at a farm property on Calhoun Falls Road in Elberton. Officials say King was injured in the incident and was treated at the scene before being taken by first responders to an area hospital. King later died from his injuries on Wednesday, the coroner confirmed.
Man killed in Cameron County bee attack identified
Santa Rosa, TX — A 47-year-old man who was trimming trees was identified as the man who died following a Jan. 9 bee attack near Santa Rosa. As previously reported, deputies with the Cameron County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Orphanage Road and FM 506 outside the Tierra Bonita community after a man was attacked by bees. When deputies arrived at the scene, Adrian De La Rosa was motionless and still covered in bees, Cameron County Sheriff Manuel Treviño said in a Wednesday news release. “Santa Rosa Police Department officers were first on scene but were unable to exit their patrol cars due to being swarmed by bees,” Treviño said in the news release. A witness said De La Rosa was operating a boom lift and cutting tree branches when he struck an area of the tree where the bees were. “The bees immediately swarmed Adrian de la Rosa as he attempted to lower the lift,” the news release stated. “By the time the boom lift reached the ground, Adrian was completely covered in bees and he immediately collapsed to the ground. The witness attempted to use bee spray to scare away the bees but it had no effect on them.” The Santa Rosa Fire Department arrived and used their water hose to remove the bees from the victim, who was pronounced dead afterward.
MIOSHA reports 1st worker death of 2026. How many workers died in ’25
Greenville, MI – -Michigan workplace safety officials on Wednesday, Jan. 14, announced the first workplace fatality of the year, a tow truck worker who was pinned and suffered a head injury. The death, which took place Jan. 10 in Greenville, involved a 26-year-old tow truck helper who was standing at the rear of the truck cab when they were caught between the carriage and the cab. The Michigan State Police Sixth District, in a Jan. 10 post on X, said troopers were dispatched to Greenville Steel at about 11:45 a.m. Jan. 10 where they found 26-year-old Daniel Evans was “accidentally killed involving a rollback flatbed truck.” The MSP said Evans and another man were delivering a scrapped forklift for a local company. After unloading, the flatbed was being returned to its original position when resistance was encountered. Evans was later found on the ground, with initial indications he became caught between the flatbed and the cab of the truck, MSP said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Fiery Semi-Truck Crash on State Road 60 in Osceola County Kills One, Injures Another
Osceola County, FL — A devastating multi-vehicle crash involving two semi-trucks and a pickup truck claimed one life and left another person injured Wednesday afternoon in Osceola County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). The collision caused a major fire and forced the complete shutdown of State Road 60 in both directions for several hours. FHP reports that the crash occurred around 2:37 p.m. near Peavine Road in Kenansville. According to investigators, a semi-truck was traveling westbound on State Road 60 when it failed to stop for traffic ahead. At the time, a Peterbilt semi-truck and a Ford F-150 pickup truck were stopped in the westbound lane due to traffic conditions. Troopers said the westbound semi-truck collided with the rear of the Peterbilt, which then struck the back of the Ford pickup. The initial impact caused the first semi-truck to become fully engulfed in flames. The driver of that semi-truck, whose identity has not yet been released, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Employee dies in accident after vehicle crashes into business in Río Grande
Rio Grande, TX — A woman died in a traffic accident late last week at the Sushi To Go restaurant on Main Street in Río Grande. According to the police report, the driver of a gray 2025 Kia Soul lost control of the vehicle and crashed into the front of the business at approximately 6:24 p.m. on Friday. As a result, Odemarys García Mercado, a 20-year-old employee of the establishment, died. A 19-year-old man sustained facial injuries and was transported to a hospital in stable condition.
19-year-old employee shot, killed at Amazon Fulfillment Center in Bessemer
BESSEMER, Ala. — A 19-year-old employee was shot and killed at the Amazon Fulfilment Center in Bessemer on Sunday night. The Jefferson County coroner confirmed that Tyler Neil Alexander was shot around 10:40 p.m. “We’re deeply saddened by this tragic and senseless act of violence and are focused on supporting our employees during this time,” Amazon Spokesperson Sam Stephenson said in a statement to WVTM 13. “We’re working with the Bessemer Police Department in their active investigation.” Once officers gave the all clear, the rest of the shift was canceled and employees were sent home with pay, according to Amazon.
L.A. Sheriff killed
Los Angeles, CA — Deputy Sheriff Manuel Ayon was killed in an automobile accident as he was finishing up his shift. His patrol car left the roadway, struck a ditch and then a utility pole. Deputy Ayon had served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for two years. He was assigned to the San Dimas Station.
Amazon Employee Killed, Another Hurt in Late-Night Shooting at Texas Warehouse
Bexar County, TX — One man is dead and another is injured after a shooting late Sunday in the parking lot of an Amazon warehouse on the far Westside of Bexar County, Texas, authorities said. The gunfire erupted just after 10 p.m. Sunday in the 10000 block of U.S. Highway 90 West, near Loop 1604 and Pue Road, in the parking lot of the Amazon Fulfillment Center, according to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies said two people were shot and taken to University Hospital, with one initially reported to have life-threatening injuries. By Monday morning, one of the victims—a 26-year-old man—had died after being rushed to the hospital in critical condition, the sheriff’s office confirmed to numerous outlets. The other victim is expected to survive. Amazon confirmed that the person who was killed was an employee at the Far Westside warehouse.
Garbage Truck Driver Killed After Crashing Into Semi
ELKRIDGE, MD — A garbage truck driver died early Monday morning after police say the vehicle crashed into the back of a tractor-trailer that was parked in I-95. Maryland State Police reported that the garbage truck driver, later identified as Lazaro Miranda, 47, of Baltimore, was pronounced dead at the scene. Two passengers in the 2025 Freightliner garbage collection truck, Juan Cormachi, 22, and Fausto Flores, 35, both of Baltimore, were flown by Maryland State Police Aviation Command to a shock trauma center, police said. Miranda’s garbage truck crashed into the 2014 Volvo tractor-trailer that was parked on the right shoulder of southbound I-95 for reasons that are being investigated.