How workers died last week: Trench collapse, helicopter crash, hit-and-run, falls, farming, mowing, drowning, rollovers, vehicular collisions and shootings. On average, 100 workers die every week from traumatic injuries on the job in the United States. 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.
Worker killed after trench collapses at excavation site near Hickman
HICKMAN, CA — An excavation crew worker died Friday morning after a trench collapsed in Hickman, officials say. Stanislaus Consolidated Fire Protection District and Modesto Fire Department responded to the incident around 10:24 a.m. about five miles east of Hickman and Lake roads. The fire district said emergency crews found a person had become trapped underground while working at the site. Firefighters and technical rescue personnel worked for hours to remove the victim from the collapsed trench. The victim was recovered and pronounced deceased. More than 30 firefighters responded to the incident, and crews cleared the scene without further incident around 3 p.m., according to the fire district. Several organizations contributed to the recovery effort, including the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, Stanislaus County C.E.R.T., Denair Lumber, Waterford Subway, and Cal/OSHA. Cal/OSHA is investigating the cause and circumstances surrounding the incident. The deceased worker was later identified to be 34-year-old Pablo Gomez, who had two daughters and a son on the way.
Construction worker dies at Meta data center site
LEBANON, IN — The Lebanon Police Department says a man working at a data center died after being hit by a truck on Monday evening. The accident happened around 5:43 p.m. Lebanon police, firefighters, and medics were called to the Meta data center construction site along County Road 400 West and State Road 32 on a report that a construction worker had been hit by a pickup truck. Medical personnel at the scene had started life-saving measures that were continued by emergency services. Unfortunately, the man died at the scene. Lebanon police identified the man as 33-year-old Christopher Lawe of Oklahoma.
Amazon truck kills 2 workers on side of Georgia interstate
RICHMOND COUNTY, GA — Two workers were killed on a Georgia interstate Monday morning. The Georgia State Patrol says they were collecting equipment outside their truck Monday on the side of I-95 in Richmond Hill, WJCL reported. Authorities say an Amazon truck drifted onto the right shoulder and hit their truck. It was pushing across three lanes of traffic and over the guardrail. The workers were struck and killed.
Contractor at St. Paul Park Marathon Petroleum site dies, police investigating
ST. PAUL PARK, MN — Police in St. Paul Park, Minnesota, say they’re investigating after a man died at a refinery Sunday afternoon. Authorities were called to the Marathon Petroleum site in the city around 4:15 p.m. after they were told that a contractor had been injured. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say they’re currently withholding his name.
Idaho inmate dies working outdoor job at cattle feedlot during triple-digit heat
Grand View, ID — An Idaho Department of Correction inmate, Matthew Henson, 45, died while working at an outdoor job site during a dangerous heat wave, and now workplace safety investigators are looking into what happened. On July 11, temperatures across southwest Idaho spiked into the triple digits — 10 to 12 degrees above normal, according to the National Weather Service. Henson was taking part in a prison work release program at a 750-acre Simplot feedlot in Grand View, about 60 miles southeast of Boise, where tens of thousands of cattle are held. Henson’s ex-wife, Tiffanee, has spoken with inmates who were working alongside him that day. She says one of those inmates went inside to get water — with inmates telling Tiffanee the only water source was located in a break room — and was reprimanded by a Simplot supervisor for taking the break. Henson reportedly witnessed that and, rather than risk the same reprimand, went back to work instead.
Body of oilfield worker found inside car on drill site in Winkler County
WINKLER COUNTY, TX — The Winkler County Sheriff’s Office found a body of a man inside a car who was believed to be an oilfield worker. According to the sheriff’s office, the 38-year-old man was found on a drill site near the area of Little Joe Road. The circumstances of his death are unknown, but no foul play was involved, according to investigators. An autopsy has been ordered.
OSHA Investigation Underway After Landscaper Died in Fall From Work Truck near Planting Field Road and Old Farm Road
EAST HILLS, NY — A landscaper tragically died in a workplace accident after falling from a truck in Nassau County near the intersection of Planting Field Road and Old Farm Road. Nassau County officials are saying that the accident occurred around 2 PM on Thursday afternoon. The police received a call about a 35-year-old man who had fallen off of a landscaping truck and sustained major injuries in the process. Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision to help the victim. Unfortunately, he was later pronounced deceased.
Construction worker dead after incident at ContiTech facility in Mount Pleasant
MOUNT PLEASANT, IA — A construction worker died recently after an incident at the ContiTech facility in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. According to a ContiTech spokesperson, a sub-contractor’s employee that was working on the facility’s construction work for a compounding project was injured and died in an incident. ContiTech said the person was employed by a sub-contractor of ContiTech’s general contractor for the project. They reported they are working with local authorities as they investigate the incident.
Coroner identifies man who died in workplace accident near Jeffersontown
JEFFERSONTOWN, KY — The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office has identified the man who died following a workplace accident in Jeffersontown Monday. According to Louisville Metro Police, officers and EMS responded to the 12900 block of Taylorsville Road following reports of a person down inside of a business around 5:15 p.m. Monday. Officers found the man, identified as 20-year-old Mark Troemner of Crestwood, down inside the garage area at Tire Discounters. He was pronounced dead by EMS. LMPD says the incident is being investigated as a workplace-involved incident.
Longtime Dining Staff Member Dies Following Injury From College Dishwasher
SWARTHMORE, PA — Brett Day, a longtime dining hall staff member, died on Aug. 15, six and a half months after he was severely injured by an industrial dishwasher while working in the college’s dining hall. Day was 54 years old and had worked at Swarthmore for 34 years. Immediately after the February incident, Day was hospitalized and comatose at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. After returning home three months later in May, he experienced trouble breathing that kept him in and out of the hospital throughout the summer. He underwent throat surgery in July. The injury occurred while Day was fixing an item that had gotten stuck in the machine. A coworker had turned it off, but scalding hot water soon poured out anyway, leaving him covered in second and third degree burns. Three of the machine’s six safety switches were later determined to have failed at the time of the incident, according to the Day family’s attorney, who is investigating the equipment. On the morning of Aug. 15, Day again experienced severe trouble breathing. He died at home shortly after.
Box truck driver struck, killed by semi trucker on I-70 westbound in Putnam County
PUTNAM COUNTY, IN — A man was struck and killed by a semi driver on the side of Interstate 70 westbound in Putnam County on Monday afternoon. According to a press release, Indiana State Police and Putnam County Sheriff’s deputies responded to mile marker 40 of I-70 westbound to investigate a crash. Mile marker 40 is located near I-70 westbound’s exit for Cloverdale. A notification from the Indiana Department of Transportation indicates that law enforcement shut down I-70 westbound at mile marker 40 around 2:32 p.m. Traffic impacts caused by law enforcement’s investigation of the crash continued until around 6:30 p.m. During their investigation of the incident, state police determined 46-year-old Jose Efrain Serrano of Indianapolis had pulled over on the right shoulder of I-70 westbound near the white fog line before the crash occurred. After pulling over, Serrano exited the 2000 Chevrolet box truck he had been driving. As Serrano got out of the truck, he was struck by the driver of a 2024 Volvo semi.
Police investigate murder-suicide after shooting outside Hanover senior living facility
HANOVER, Md. (WBFF) — A woman was shot and killed outside a senior living facility in Anne Arundel County on Friday, and police say the suspected shooter was later found dead in nearby woods. Anne Arundel County police said officers were called on Sept. 11 at about 8:50 p.m. to the Morningside House of Friendship in the 7500 block of Old Telegraph Road after receiving multiple reports of a shooting. Officers arrived and found an adult woman with gunshot wounds. Witnesses told police the suspect fled south on foot into a large wooded area. Officers provided emergency medical aid while other officers set up a perimeter around the woods south of the facility. The Anne Arundel County Fire Department took over care, but the woman was pronounced dead at the scene because of the severity of her injuries, police said. Police identified the victim as Asia Natee Virginia Thomas, a 27-year-old woman from Baltimore.
16-year-old boy dies in Leacock Township farming accident
LEACOCK TOWNSHIP, PA — A 16-year-old boy died Monday after falling from a horse-drawn wagon while harvesting corn in Leacock Township, according to the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office. Alvin Y. Petersheim, of Paradise Township, died of multiple traumatic injuries, and his death was ruled accidental. Fire and emergency medical officials responded to the first block of North Hollander Road near Old Philadelphia Pike around 3 p.m. Monday for reports of a person struck by a vehicle, according to a dispatcher at Lancaster County-Wide Communications.
Worker Dies After Construction Vehicle Overturns Into Water at Lee County Mine
LEE COUNTY, FL — A worker died when a construction vehicle overturned into a body of water at Bell Mine off State Road 82, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Emergency personnel and other workers tried to rescue the operator after she became trapped underwater inside the vehicle. Meanwhile, the Mine Safety and Health Administration also responded to the site and began a parallel investigation.
Two construction workers killed after crash on I-95
BRYAN COUNTY, GA — Two workers were killed after a major crash on I-95 Monday morning. The crash involved a freightliner box truck and a Ford traffic control truck, according to GSP. Police found that the box truck failed to maintain its lane. The box truck crossed onto the right shoulder and hit the Ford, which was pushed across three lanes, over a guard rail and into the grass median. The Ford had two workers picking up traffic control equipment outside the vehicle during the time of the crash. When officers arrived at the wreck, they found the workers dead in the roadway.
2 killed in CA helicopter crash responding to wildfire in Yosemite: FAA
MARIPOSA COUNTY, CA — A helicopter assisting in the firefighting response to the ‘Dome Fire’ in Yosemite crashed Sunday afternoon, killing the two people on board, according to federal officials. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the crash was connected to the ‘Dome Fire.’ Officials said the helicopter crashed in Mariposa, California at about 2:55 p.m. Saturday with two people on board. The helicopter company that had an aircraft assigned to fight the fire also confirmed the crash and said the two people aboard were killed, who were later determined to be 38-year-old reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw.
Safety Service Patrol worker dies in I-64 crash early Saturday
NEWPORT NEWS, VA — A Safety Service Patrol worker is dead after a crash on Interstate 64 in Newport News early Saturday. It started at 3:12 a.m., when Virginia State Police responded to a reported sleeping motorist on I-64 westbound near the Jefferson Avenue overpass, according to Virginia State Police. According to the preliminary investigation, a Virginia State Police vehicle was struck in the rear by a Kia Sorento. The trooper, responding to the sleeping motorist report, was outside of the vehicle at the time and was not injured. After that, a Safety Service Patrol worker on scene was struck by a third vehicle, an orange Dodge Charger. The worker suffered fatal injuries.
Truck driver found dead in Home Depot parking lot in Louisiana
LA PLACE, LA — Louisiana sheriff’s deputies found a truck driver dead in a Home Depot parking lot. According to the St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office, it received a call around 8:40 Thursday morning from the employer of a 53-year-old truck driver, who has not yet been identified, because the employer had not heard from the driver, who is from Tennessee. A company official told the SJSO that the driver had told them on Wednesday that he was not feeling well, and was going to stop and rest. SJSO deputies said they found the truck in the Home Depot parking lot in LaPlace. The driver was found unresponsive inside the truck and was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Construction worker killed in I-275 crash identified
SPRINGDALE, OH — A construction worker was killed while working on I-275 Friday morning. The worker was working on a highway project on the highway near SR 747 in Springdale just before 4 a.m. when he was hit by a vehicle, according to Springdale Police. The worker was rushed to Bethesda North Hospital where he died from his injuries. The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office identified him as Joshua Holland, 27, of Adams County.
1 person dead after train and tractor-trailer collided along U.S. 78: SCHP
DORCHESTER COUNTY, SC — New details are emerging from a train-and-truck collision in the St. George area Friday evening. According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, one person is dead after a Peterbilt tractor-trailer was struck by a Norfolk Southern train around 6:39 p.m. on U.S. Highway 78. The truck had stopped at the railroad crossing northbound on U.S. 78 when the train, traveling west along the highway, struck the semi-truck. The driver of the tractor-trailer died at the scene of the crash. Coroner Paul J. Brouthers identified the driver of the 18-wheeler as Earl Gill III, 55, from Ehrhardt, South Carolina. An autopsy will be conducted at a later date at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Apex soldier killed in crash on U.S. Army base
FORT HOOD, TX — An Apex soldier died in a crash this week on a Texas military base, the Army said Wednesday. Pfc. Ethan Brewer was killed Monday when a medical Humvee overturned at Fort Hood in central Texas. Another soldier was injured in the crash and has been released from the hospital. Brewer, from Apex, joined the Army in 2025 as a medic and was assigned to 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division Artillery Brigade.
Operator Dies After Haul Truck Overturns into Mine Lake in Florida
LEHIGH ACRES, FL — A haul truck operator died September 14 following an accident at Bell Mine in Lehigh Acres, Florida. According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office report, the operator became trapped underwater after her haul truck overturned into a lake.
Fergus Falls Walmart honors employee killed in fatal Otter Tail County crash
FERGUS FALLS, MN — A memorial has been set up for a Pelican Rapids woman killed in a crash in Otter Tail County on Sept. 6. The Fergus Falls Walmart said 51-year-old Basro Abokar was “a valued part of our team, and her presence, kindness, and the memories she shared with those around her will always be remembered.” A memorial message at the store added, “Basro was a kind and hardworking associate.”
1 killed in crash involving two trucks
CHOCTAW COUNTY, MS — One person was killed in a crash involving a box and wood chip trucks. The Mississippi Highway Patrol reports that the crash took place on Highway 9 near Maddox Road around 6 a.m. Wednesday in Choctaw County. The report said the trucks collided, leading to the death of 64-year-old James Rushing, of Weir. The other driver suffered moderate injuries and was taken to Choctaw Medical in Ackerman. The box truck had been hauling produce. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Martinsville man dead after crash involving vehicle, riding lawn mower
MORGAN COUNTY, IN — Authorities are investigating after a Martinsville man died following a serious crash involving a vehicle and a riding lawn mower Tuesday evening. Deputies with the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office responded shortly after 8 p.m. to the 3400 block of SR 142 west of Wilbur after dispatch received calls about a serious crash occurring in the area. MCSO said deputies arrived and determined that a 2013 Chevrolet Cruze and a Husqvarna riding lawn mower had been involved in a crash. Deputies believe that the riding mower, which was operated by 42-year-old Donald Kirkley of Martinsville, had been in the westbound lane of SR 142 when it was reportedly struck by the Chevrolet Cruze. Kirkley was brought to Franciscan Hospital in Mooresville, where he later succumbed to his injuries, MCSO said.
Weigh station wellness check ends in discovery of deceased truck driver
EPPING, NH — A wellness check at a weigh station in New Hampshire ended with the discovery of a deceased truck driver over the weekend. New Hampshire State Police were called to the weigh station on Route 101 in Epping, New Hampshire on Sunday, September 13th at about 5 p.m. Police issued a statement about the incident on Tuesday, September 15th. According to Union Leader, officers were asked to conduct a welfare check on the driver of a tractor trailer that had been parked at the weigh station “for an extended period of time.” Police found that the truck cab was locked, and requested the assistance of the Epping Fire Department to get the cab unlocked. State police soon discovered that the truck driver was deceased inside of the truck cab.
Truck driver killed in crash
CLARENDON COUNTY, SC — A fatal crash left one person dead in Clarendon County on Tuesday morning. The crash took place on Tuesday at approximately 4:15 a.m. on I-95 near the 100-mile marker. A tractor-trailer was driving on I-95 before running off the road and hitting a guardrail before stopping in the opposite lane. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
Contractor shot, killed when arriving to work at Norfolk Southern facility
AUSTELL, GA — Police are investigating after a man was killed in a shooting at a Norfolk Southern facility in Austell late Monday night. Officers were called to the facility on Dr. Luke Glenn Garrett Jr. Memorial Highway at 10 p.m. for reports of a person shot. When they arrived, they found a man who had been shot and lying on the ground in the parking lot. Police say Curdravious Clark, 27, was taken to Wellstar Cobb Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.