How workers died last week: Trench collapse, heavy machinery incidents, tree care, aerial vehicles crashing, falls, construction incidents, occupational cancer, shootings and vehicle incidents. 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.
Man dies after trench collapse in NW Iowa sparks multi-agency rescue
LAWTON, Iowa (KTIV) – A man has died after several agencies in Northwest Iowa responded to a rescue attempt. At about 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 28, Lawton first responders were sent to 1709 Highway 20, located between Sioux City and Lawton, after receiving reports of an injured person due to a trench collapse. “Knowing the difficulties of a technical trench rescue, mutual aid was immediately requested from surrounding agencies. The Lawton Community Fire Department, with the help of the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office and the fire departments from Sergeant Bluff and Sioux City, coordinated the rescue. The man was located, but despite the first responders’ efforts, authorities say he was pronounced dead.
Couple, 2 children and a 20-year-old pilot among 9 dead in Florida crash
Greenacres, FL — A business jet that crashed in South Florida with nine people aboard, including a family with two young children, likely started breaking apart before it slammed into the ground and erupted in a fireball, a federal investigator said Monday. The jet did a steep nosedive, leaving behind a crater and a wide debris field as rain pounded the area. Authorities said weather will be a key initial focus of the investigation, and that the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will also examine the actions of the crew and look for any mechanical problems with the plane. The victims included 20-year-old co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, who made the final radio transmissions, as well as technology entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife, Helen Sharp, and their two young children, relatives said.
21-year-old arborist dies after falling from tree near North Plains
WASHINGTON COUNTY, OR — Authorities determined the death of an arborist working near Northwest Dixie Mountain and Northwest Northrup roads, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. A 21-year-old arborist died Tuesday evening after falling approximately 30 feet from a tree in the North Plains area, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Cedar City man who died in construction accident was ‘excited to be a dad’
CEDAR CITY, UT — A young wife and soon-to-be mother is grieving the loss of her husband after a construction accident took his life Tuesday. Truman Yardley, 24, of Cedar City, died after being struck and pinned by a dump truck at the Sonrise Christian Church job site just west of Cedar City Tuesday morning, days before the birth of his first child. Family members, including his wife of one year, Lexi Yardley, described him as selfless and full of life.
Man dies in heavy equipment incident
VERMILION TWP., OH — A Vermilion man died last week after he was involved in an accident involving a piece of heavy equipment. Just before 7 p.m. on Oct. 23, first responders were called to the 8300 block of Joppa Road for a report of a man struck by a backhoe. When deputies arrived, Vermilion Township first responders were already on scene and providing aid to an 82-year-old Vermilion man. The man, Raymond L. Dillon, was declared dead just before 7:15 p.m., according to an Erie County Sheriff’s Office report.
27-Year-Old Dies in Barco Industrial Accident
Barco, NC — The Currituck County Sheriff’s Office says its investigation into a fatal industrial accident Friday in Barco has found no evidence of criminal conduct. Deputies responded to the scene and began examining the circumstances surrounding the death. According to The Outer Banks Voice, the sheriff’s office released information about the fatal industrial accident at the Panagakos Asphalt Plant, and confirmed deputies responded to the scene in Barco. Investigators determined that the death was tragic and not the result of criminal activity, the outlet reported. Officials said their review uncovered no evidence of criminal conduct or foul play. The sheriff’s office extended condolences to the deceased’s family, friends and colleagues.The identity of the victim, the employer involved, and the specific equipment or circumstances that led to the accident have not been released.
Montana Sheriff’s Deputy Killed in Shooting That Left Police Officer Wounded and Woman Dead
EUREKA, MT — A deputy with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office shot and killed Friday (Oct. 30) while responding to a disturbance call in Eureka. A Eureka police officer also was wounded, and investigators later discovered a second fatal shooting at the scene. Deputy Ryan Terpsma, 28, responded to a disturbance at 8:23 p.m. at 118 Lone Pine Trail, accompanied by a Eureka police officer, according to a news release from Sheriff Darren Short. Terpsma was shot and killed at the scene. The Eureka police officer was also struck by gunfire but sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
Student pilot identified as 3rd victim in fatal McMinnville helicopter crash
MCMINNVILLE, OR — Authorities have identified the third person who died in the mid-air collision of two helicopters near McMinnville on Thursday afternoon. The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office identified the 31-year-old student pilot as Christopher James Joughin, a resident of the United Kingdom. Authorities said the release of his identity was delayed while his family in Zimbabwe was notified. Maddie Aasbo, a 22-year-old flight instructor from Texas, died in the same helicopter as Joughin. The sole occupant of the other helicopter, Tyler Delane Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg, also died. There were no survivors in the crash. Witnesses reported that the two helicopters collided in the air just after 2 p.m. while each was about 500 feet above the ground, then plummeted onto a farm field about one mile east of the McMinnville Airport, near the intersection of Oregon 233 and Southeast Cruickshank Road. Aasbo and Joughin were aboard a Robinson R22 helicopter during a flight lesson, while Sturdevant was conducting a post-maintenance check flight in an Airbus AS350B3, according to the sheriff’s office.
‘Feels like he’s still on leave’: Families mourning after crash that killed 3 Navy sailors
PENSACOLA, Fla. (WWSB/Gray News) – Three service members assigned to Naval Air Station Pensacola died in an Oct. 24 crash in Florida, the Navy confirmed.The vehicle was traveling westbound when it hit a barrier at M Street and caught fire, Pensacola police said.nAll three sailors were pronounced dead at the scene. The Navy said two of the sailors killed were assigned to the Naval Air Technical Training Center. The third was assigned to Naval Aviation Schools Command. Cmdr. David Gardner, a spokesperson for Naval Education and Training Command at Naval Air Station Pensacola, identified the service members as: Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Apprentice Dracon Bagley, Aviation Ordnanceman Recruit Francois Longdayeyambete, Airman Apprentice David Deanda Bagley, of Michigan, enlisted in the Navy on May 14.
3 dead, including 2 contractors, after crash on SH 71 near Travis-Bastrop county line
BASTROP COUNTY, TX — Three people, including two contractors working on a Texas Department of Transportation project, died in a crash early Thursday on State Highway 71 near the Travis County-Bastrop County line, according to the Bastrop County sheriff. The sheriff confirmed to CBS Austin that the crash killed two contractors and a 26-year-old woman who was driving a Nissan sedan. The crash happened in the westbound lanes of SH 71 at Tucker Hill Lane on Thursday, Oct. 29, prompting the closure of all westbound lanes for about two hours.
Trucking firm’s safety rules meant nothing after worker died
STARK COUNTY, ND — A trucking company had back-up cameras, alarms, high-vis rules, and a firing policy – but a federal court found none of it counted. On October 28, 2026, the Eighth Circuit upheld an OSHA citation against Hall Trucking, Inc. after one of its trucks fatally struck an employee during an oil rig move. The company challenged the citation all the way to federal appeals court. It lost at every level. OSHA cited Hall Trucking under the general duty clause – the federal safety law requiring employers to keep workplaces free from known hazards likely to cause death or serious harm. The proposed fix: an internal traffic control plan, or ITCP, which can include steps to keep workers and trucks apart, high-visibility gear requirements, and targeted training.
Trash Truck Driver Struck And Killed In Early Morning Lake Wales Crash
LAKE WALES, FL — A 60-year-old sanitation worker died Friday morning after being struck by a pickup truck while attempting to direct traffic around his vehicle, according to the Lake Wales Police Department. Officers were called to the scene at the intersection of 1st Street and Emerald Avenue shortly after 6:10 a.m. regarding a collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian. Investigators said Gary Dewayne Mitchell, of Auburndale, was driving a Republic Services trash truck when he pulled over on 1st Street. Mitchell got out of the truck to guide a vehicle behind him around the stopped service vehicle. While standing outside his truck, Mitchell was hit by a northbound 2019 Chevrolet 3500 pickup driven by Jacob Trinidad Lopez, a Lake Wales resident. Emergency crews transported Mitchell to AdventHealth Lake Wales, where medical staff pronounced him dead from his injuries.
Bessemer Utilities worker killed in hit-and-run identified
BESSEMER, AL — A 63-year-old Bessemer Water Utility worker killed in a hit-and-run was servicing a water meter when he was struck. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office on Tuesday identified the victim as Romella Tabb. He lived in Bessemer. A suspect is in custody. Sheriff’s deputies and other first responders were dispatched at 8:17 a.m. to a report of an unresponsive person in the 5100 block of Main Street. Tabb was pronounced dead on the scene by Brighton Fire and Rescue at 9:35 a.m.
16-year-old killed in tractor crash with semi-truck, officials say
AUDUBON, IO — A teen is dead after being thrown from a tractor in a crash with a semi-truck. Iowa State Patrol said it happened Sunday night on Highway 71, just south of Audubon. A crash report said a semi-truck hit the back of the trailer that the tractor was pulling. Tatum Christensen, 16, was ejected from the tractor. He died at the scene. The report said the semi-truck driver was flown to the hospital with serious injuries. Crash reports showed this was the second farm equipment crash that happened in Audubon County on Sunday. The other crash left a pickup truck driver with serious injuries after it crashed head-on with a combine.
Flint truck driver dies after crash along I-69
ATTICA TOWNSHIP, MI — A truck driver from Flint died following a crash Tuesday morning in Lapeer County. The crash happened at 9:46 a.m. along Eastbound I-69, east of Lake Pleasant Road. According to the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Office, the truck driver was driving in the right lane on Eastbound I-69 when the truck suddenly went across the left lane and overturned in the grassy median. The truck was hauling large boulders when it crashed. The boulders were tossed from the truck when it rolled over. Some of them were on both the eastbound and westbound sides of the interstate. The truck was also leaking fuel after it rolled. The driver of the truck was pronounced deceased at the scene. Police identified him as 34-year-old Tyler Zellar.
Two Umatilla County Log Truck Drivers Killed in Highway 204 Crash
UNION COUNTY, OR — Oregon State Police are reporting that two men have passed away after an accident Monday near Elgin. With an empty logging truck, Scott Charles Caldwell (55), of Adams, was traveling westbound on Highway 204 near Elgin when it veered into the oncoming lane to avoid a deer. While attempting to veer back into the westbound lane, the log truck ended up sideways across the roadway and was struck by a fully loaded eastbound Kenworth log truck, operated by Curtis William Gammond (54), of Pendleton, and caught fire. The operator of the first Kenworth log truck (Caldwell) and the operator of the second Kenworth log truck (Gammond) were pronounced deceased at the scene.
Semi driver killed and another airlifted in Manitowoc County head-on crash
CATO, WI — A semi-truck driver died after colliding head on with another semi truck in Manitowoc County. Crews were called to the area of U.S. Highway 151 and Lower Falls Road in the town of Cato, just before 2 p.m. Tuesday for a reported crash involving two semi-trucks. The preliminary investigation indicates that a 2022 Mack semi-truck, operated by a 44-year-old Illinois man, was traveling east on U.S. Highway 151 when it crossed the centerline and collided with a 2014 Freightliner semi-truck traveling west. The Freightliner was driven by a 55-year-old De Pere man. He was extricated from his vehicle and airlifted to a hospital for treatment. The 44-year-old driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
Family Mourns Road Ranger Who Was Killed While On-Duty Along I-95
PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL — While a Florida highway Road Ranger who was killed on the job has not been officially named by law enforcement, his family is speaking publicly about 23-year-old Kalibe Combs. He was helping troopers work a crash scene along I-95 near Lantana Road early Sunday when FHP says an 18-year old driver crossed into closed lanes and crashed into him. Combs’ mother tells CBS 12 News that he had just become a father. “I need people to know that he was not just some Road Ranger killed on the side of the road. He is a person. He is a father. He is a brother. He is a son. He is a grandson. He is a good person.” Aretta Combs says investigators told her that her son had followed safety protocols while working the scene.
Johnson County firefighter dies after battling brain cancer
JOHNSON COUNTY, MO — A Johnson County Fire Protection District lieutenant died Saturday morning after a four-year battle with brain cancer. Ben Burd, 32, served as a firefighter for 12 years, according to a news release from the Fire District. In 2014, he began his career as a firefighter in Knob Noster and was later promoted to lieutenant in 2022, according to the release. Last year, he transferred to the Fire District’s training and safety division. He is survived by his wife and his two children.
Employee shot and killed at Walmart in Hammond, Indiana; suspect in custody
HAMMOND, IN — A woman was shot and killed inside a Walmart in Hammond, Indiana, where she worked early Monday morning. Hammond police said at 9:09 a.m., officers were called to the Walmart Supercenter at 1100 5th Ave., just across the Indiana state line from Chicago. Police said a man, who appeared to be around 18 years old, was talking with a Walmart employee in an aisle at the store when the encounter turned physical. The man then took out a gun and shot the woman multiple times, police said. “The female was an employee here. The male suspect was approaching her. They got into a physical altercation at some point, at which point he retrieved a firearm and he shot her several times,” Hammond Police Capt. Steve Kellogg said. The victim, a woman in her 20s, died at the scene. Her name has not been released.