How workers died last week: bird flu, mining, shootings, electrocutions, falls, on-duty medical emergencies, vehicular collisions, helicopter crashes, carbon monoxide poisoning, grain bin incident, firefighting and explosions.
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.
US dairy worker dies from bird flu as outbreak rages in cattle
YAKIMA COUNTY, WA — A cattle worker caught the virus following exposure at a dairy with infected cattle. The worker, who died on Sunday, had underlying health conditions, although authorities will not release any further details. This is the third human case of H5N1 bird flu in the county in recent weeks, all occurring in dairy farm workers. The two other patients who contracted the disease have not been hospitalised.
ODOT worker dies after being stuck on I-70 near Maple Avenue off-ramp
ZANESVILLE, OH — A four-year ODOT worker was killed Nov. 9 while working on the Interstate 70 reconstruction project in Zanesville, prompting condolences from the agency and an investigation into the crash. Jennifer Donley died after being struck by a vehicle near the Maple Avenue off-ramp, according to a release from ODOT Director Pamela Boratyn.
Mystery solved in Amazon delivery driver’s death in Lake County
LAKE COUNTY, FL — An Amazon delivery driver found unresponsive inside her truck in Fruitland Park died from carbon monoxide poisoning, the medical examiner’s office has determined. On Friday, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office revealed the cause of death to be carbon monoxide poisoning — ruled an accident. The medical examiner ruled the death of Jaylene Vargas-Gonzalez, 31, an accident. Her blood carboxyhemoglobin saturation — a measure of carbon monoxide in the bloodstream — was 58% at the time of her death, according to the autopsy report.
OSHA investigating fatal accident at Kronenwetter business
KRONENWETTER, WI — One person is dead after a workplace accident at American Asphalt in Kronenwetter Wednesday. The Kronenwetter Police Department and Riverside Fire Department responded to American Asphalt around 10 a.m. Wedensday. It was reported an employee was stuck in a silo gater and was unresponsive. When crews arrived, they learned a 47-year-old man had been attempting to check conditions inside one of the silos when he became stuck between the doors of a silo gate. Immediate medical care was provided on scene, but the man died as a result of his injuries. The Kronenwetter Police Department says the preliminary investigation indicates this incident does not appear to be criminal in nature. OSHA has opened their own investigation into the incident.
Worker killed by backing dump truck at Columbia County roadwork site
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL — A 66-year-old Public Works employee died after a dump truck backing up struck him Friday in Columbia County, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The crash happened at 11:48 a.m. near SW Manning Place and SW Marion Manter, where crews were working along a ditch line, according to the agency’s report. The worker was in the truck’s path and died at the scene. The dump truck’s driver, a 56-year-old Lake City man, was not reported injured. FHP said the worker’s next of kin was notified.
OSHA investigating death of worker at Carlisle trucking company
CARLISLE, PA — The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the death of an employee at a Cumberland County trucking company. An OSHA spokesperson confirmed the agency is investigating the death of 66-year-old Rolando Melendez, who was killed when he was pinned between two trailers at ABF Trucking, which is located on Harrisburg Pike in Carlisle. The Cumberland County Coroner’s Office was dispatched and pronounced Melendez dead at the scene.
4 Colorado officers shot, 1 fatally, after gunfight with suspect: police
LAKEWOOD, CO — One police officer was killed and three others wounded after a gunfight with a suspect who was trying to get on a bus in Lakewood, Colorado, Thursday night, police said. The suspect was killed in the gunfire, John Romero, the public information officer with the Lakewood Police Department, told reporters at a press conference. A civilian was also injured in the incident, but the circumstances are unclear, he said. The fallen officer was later identified to be 33-year-old Nick Graham.
Landscaper Dies After Cutting Power Line with Trimmer, Falling From 16-foot Ladder
SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the death of a man who was electrocuted and fell from a 16-foot ladder, while working at a residence in Hauppauge this morning. A landscaper, Darwin Morales-Martines was trimming trees in the backyard of 2 Richwood Lane, when the tree trimmer contacted power lines, electrocuting him, and caused him to fall from a 16-foot ladder. Morales-Martines, 31, of Central Islip, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Semi-truck driver killed in crash with excavator on closed Wood County road
WOOD COUNTY, OH — A 56-year-old Minnesota man died Saturday night after his semi-truck struck a construction excavator on a closed stretch of State Route 420 in Wood County. Deputies responded to the crash at 8:08 p.m. on S.R. 420 between S.R. 163 and Truman Road in Troy Township, according to a Wood County Sheriff’s Office news release. A preliminary investigation determined Michael Ivorsen, 56, of Jordan, Minnesota, was driving a 2019 semi-tractor without a trailer when he drove around road-closure signs and entered an inactive construction zone on southbound S.R. 420. The semi was traveling in the left lane when it struck a Caterpillar excavator parked to protect a cut across the roadway, according to the sheriff’s office. The semi then left the roadway on the left side and entered the median, where it came to a stop. Ivorsen did not appear to be wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.
Pilot dies in Florida helicopter crash during photography flight
BISCAYNE BAY, FL — A helicopter crashed in Biscayne Bay on Nov. 4, killing one and injuring two, according to officials. Those injured have since been released from the hospital. The crash took place at 11:30 a.m., according to a social media post by the U.S. Coast Guard Southeast. Three people were aboard the aircraft, and one person is “reported deceased,” while two were “transported by EMS to a higher level of care.” The pilot of the helicopter, Tomas Pendas, died, while the other two aboard “sustained minor injuries and are no longer hospitalized,” according to a press release by the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
Medford Township Work Crew Member Struck, Killed by Vehicle on North Middlegate Drive
MEDFORD TWP., NJ — A work crew employee was struck and killed by a vehicle in Medford Township on Tuesday, dying at the scene from their injuries. Police have not released the victim’s identity, and the circumstances of the crash remain under investigation. According to News12 Hudson Valley, police responded to reports of a pedestrian hit by a vehicle near Black Hawk Court and North Middlegate Drive. The outlet reported that the worker died at the scene, and that authorities had not disclosed who the victim was as of the initial report.
Spokane County deputies killed responding to domestic violence shooting identified
SEATTLE, WA — The two Spokane County sheriff’s deputies who died after being shot while trying to rescue a possible hostage during a domestic violence shooting in South Spokane County have been identified. Deputy Mason Acheson and Deputy Parker Perry were both critically wounded after responding to the home in the 18700 block of South Smythe Road on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded around 2:25 p.m. when a woman, claiming she had been shot by her brother, got help from a neighbor. The deadly shooting prompted a major emergency response, closing portions of Interstate 90 and U.S. 195, with help from SWAT teams across the region. The Sheriff’s Office said the injured woman was taken to a hospital and her injuries were not life-threatening. Deputy Acheson is survived by his wife and two children. Deputy Perry is survived by his wife, two children, and a third child soon to join their family.
Selma firefighter dies of medical causes while on duty
SELMA, AL — Selma Fire Chief Walter Dailey has confirmed to Action 8 News that a longtime firefighter has died of medical causes while on duty. Dailey told Action 8 News that 58-year-old Aeneas Pettway died yesterday while on duty at the Broad Street fire station. Pettway was a 28-year veteran of the Selma Fire Department, and was a fire investigator/fire inspector. He was married with children and grandchildren, Dailey said.
Communities light up red for fallen North Royalton firefighter
NORTH ROYALTON, OH — Northeast Ohio is mourning the death of one North Royalton firefighter and rallying for the recovery of another. Firefighter-paramedic Ryan Milligan, 36, was killed and fellow firefighter-paramedic Andrew Protsman, 38, was seriously injured while assisting on a mutual aid call to a house fire in Broadview Heights Monday night.
LAPD mourns loss of diving officer killed during training exercise
ORANGE COUNTY, CA — The Los Angeles Police Department is mourning the loss of Officer Thomas Denton, who was killed during a training exercise on Thursday.
Sheriff identifies gunman and woman ‘executed’ in deadly Tampa Citibank shooting
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — A 35-year-old Orlando man who killed a Citibank employee Wednesday afternoon had threatened the company over a $2,500 debt just hours before the shooting, Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister revealed Thursday. During a news conference, Chronister identified the victim as LeAnne Selman, 41, of Palm Harbor, and the gunman as Jacob Pearson, 35, of Orlando.
Man and woman found shot in the head inside East Harlem apartment
EAST HARLEM, NY — Two people were found dead with gunshot wounds inside an East Harlem apartment Thursday night in what police believe was a double homicide. Police responded to the Gaylord White Houses on East 104th Street and Second Avenue around 8:30 p.m. Thursday to conduct a wellness check after the son of 55-year-old home health aide Elsa Espina reported that she had not shown up to her next job. When officers arrived at the unlocked apartment, they found Elias Severino, 66, and Espina dead, possibly having been deceased for some time. Severino, who had cancer, was found tied up with a gunshot wound to the head. Doctors later determined that Espina, a Bronx resident, also had been shot in the head.
Trucker killed in rollover crash in Indiana
GRANT COUNTY, IN — A truck driver was killed in Indiana on Thursday morning. Indiana State Police (ISP) issued a news release that it is investigating a single-vehicle crash that occurred on Interstate 69 near the 269-mile marker, which claimed the life of one individual. ISP said its investigation indicated that on Thursday morning, shortly after 6:00 a.m., a 2021 Freightliner semi with an attached trailer driven by Lee R. Lauzon, 60, of Ontario, Canada, was traveling southbound on I-69 near the 269-mile marker. For an undetermined reason, the Freightliner traveled off the roadway and rolled before coming to a final rest. Police say Lauzon succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the crash scene by the Grant County Coroner’s Office.
Brooklyn MTA Agent Dies a Year After Attack, Trial Delayed to Dig Deeper
BROOKLYN, NY — A Brooklyn MTA station agent who was violently assaulted at her booth nearly 16 months ago has died, and prosecutors have now postponed the trial of her accused attackers to dig into whether the two events are connected. Marshalee Reid, 52, passed away on October 25, according to her union, nearly 16 months after she was attacked while working at the New Lots Station.
Trucker killed in Arkansas crash
HEMPSTEAD COUNTY, AR — An improper lane change on an Arkansas interstate led to a crash that involved a big rig, which ulitmately claimed the life of the big rig’s driver. Arkansas State Police (ASP) stated in a fatal crash summary that James D. Wesolowski, 51, of Malvern, Arkansas died after a 2022 GMC Sierra made an improper lane change and struck a 2007 Kenworth driven by Wesolowski.
Amazon employee dies at Colorado Springs warehouse
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — An Amazon employee died at a Colorado Springs warehouse, just south of the airport, on Friday night, Nov. 6, after being found unconscious in a restroom, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD). CSPD stated that at around 10:22 p.m. on Friday, a call came in reporting that an employee had been found unconscious in a restroom on the 5th floor at the Amazon warehouse located at 4222 Integration Loop. According to the officer, CPR was performed but was unsuccessful. The cause of death is currently unknown.
Adrian, Oregon, fire chief dies after medical emergency at crash scene
ADRIAN, OR — An Adrian, Oregon, fire chief died Saturday after suffering a medical emergency at the scene of a motor vehicle crash, the Adrian Rural Fire District and Snake River Valley Fire Chiefs Association said in a joint press release. Chief George Martin served the Adrian Rural Fire District for more than 20 years, with the last four years as chief.
Update: Raft River, ID, Firefighter Killed in Rig Crash Identified
RAFT RIVER, ID — An apparatus crash has claimed the life of an Idaho firefighter and left another with serious injuries. Raft River Firefighter Joseph Wyatt Gates, 24, and another responder were ejected when the rig crashed while they were returning from a training exercise, the U.S. Fire Adminstration reported. The two were flown to Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, where Gates died and the other firefighter remains in critical condition. Gates had been a firefighter for eight months. The fire apparatus was the only vehicle involved in the Monday night crash, according to the Cassia County Sheriff’s Office that is investigating. This brings to 74 the number of firefighters killed on duty this year.
Employee, 25, Dies After Electrocution At Berlin Manufacturing Facility: Police
BERLIN, CT — A 25-year-old employee at a Berlin aerospace manufacturing facility died after being electrocuted while performing maintenance on industrial equipment, according to the Berlin Police Department on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Police and emergency medical personnel responded to TIGHITCO, located at 245 Old Brickyard Lane, at approximately 8:12 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, following a report of a medical emergency. According to police, the employee had been electrocuted while performing maintenance on a piece of industrial equipment. First responders performed CPR on the employee before transporting him to a local hospital for further treatment. The employee died at the hospital the following day, Friday, Oct. 30, police said.
Wilford Guy Killed in Industrial Accident at Living Desert Zoo in Palm Desert
PALM DESERT, CA — A 68-year-old contractor identified as Wilford Guy was killed in an industrial accident at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert. Riverside County officials are saying that the industrial accident occurred around 8:45 a.m. on Wednesday, October 14. Wilford Guy, of Indio, was working as an outside contractor in a behind-the-scenes area of the zoo at 47900 Portola Avenue when the accident occurred for reasons that have not been released.
Tire blowout leads to fatal Wythe County truck crash
WYTHE COUNTY, VA — Virginia State Police say a tire blowout led to a crash that killed a truck driver Thursday. Bruce A. Layman, 60, of Wirtz in Franklin County, died at the scene of the crash October 29, 2026 on Interstate 81 at mile marker 68 in Wythe County, according to police. Police say Layman was driving a GMC C7 northbound when the blowout caused the truck to go off the road and into the median. The truck then crossed the southbound lanes on Interstate 81 and overturned, hitting a guardrail and going over an embankment.
Harlan County coroner identifies man killed in workplace accident
HARLAN COUNTY, KY — The Harlan County coroner has identified the individual who was killed in a coal truck crash on a work site in Cawood. Kentucky State Police received a call about the collision shortly after 7 a.m. at the Nally & Hamilton job site in the Cawood community. The crash was single-vehicle and no other injuries were reported. According to the county corner, Deputy Coroner John Jones responded to the scene where he pronounced Benjamin Slusher, 25, of Flatlick, Ky. deceased. Slusher was a contracted truck driver. The crash occurred on the haul road of the mining operation. The Mine Safety and Health Administration is also conducting an independent investigation.
Propane truck driver killed in crash that shut down Interstate 190 in Holden
HOLDEN, MA — A 46-year-old man has died after a propane truck crash on Interstate 190 in Holden on Sunday night, according to Massachusetts State Police. State troopers responded to the two-vehicle crash at 8:30 p.m. near the 7-mile marker. According to officers, a propane truck traveling in the left lane changed lanes and struck a sedan traveling in the right lane, causing both vehicles to crash into the highway median. The propane truck stopped in a wooded area of the median. Police identified the operator of the propane truck as a 46-year-old man. Officers said he sustained serious injuries and was pronounced dead on scene.