{"id":13728,"date":"2026-04-14T07:39:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T11:39:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jordanbarab.com\/confinedspace\/?p=13728"},"modified":"2026-04-13T23:26:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T03:26:28","slug":"no-rest-for-the-workers-the-weekly-toll","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jordanbarab.com\/confinedspace\/2026\/04\/14\/no-rest-for-the-workers-the-weekly-toll\/","title":{"rendered":"No Rest for the Workers: The Weekly Toll"},"content":{"rendered":"

How workers died last week: trench collapse, parking lot collapse, crushed by a forklift, tanker truck explosion, pinned under pipes, medical emergency, grain bin incident, electrocuted to death, tree-trimming, shootings, and vehicular collisions. <\/strong><\/span>On average, 100 workers die every week from traumatic injuries on the job in the United States.<\/strong>\u00a0More 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.\u00a0Why We Write The Weekly Toll<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

One rescued, one found dead after grain bin incident on Delaware farm<\/h3>\n

BRIDGEVILLE, DE — One person was rescued, and another was found dead after a grain bin incident<\/a> on a farm in Delaware, police said. According to Delaware State Police, around 4:50 p.m. on Friday, April 10, 2026, the Bridgeville Fire Company, along with other fire companies and the Delaware State Police, responded to Evans Farms, located at 12696 Redden Road in Bridgeville, after receiving a report of two men trapped in a grain tank. When fire and rescue crews arrived, police said they confirmed that two men were trapped, requested additional rescue resources and began working to remove them. After lengthy rescue efforts, police said a 20-year-old man from Bridgeville, Delaware, was removed from the grain tank and taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A second person, a 66-year-old man, from Bridgeville, was found and pronounced dead at the scene. The preliminary investigation revealed that the two men entered the grain tank to loosen an auger that had become clogged with corn, according to police. While in the tank, the two men became stuck, and corn from a higher level in the tank slid onto them, trapping them in the corn.<\/p>\n

OSHA Investigates Fatal Trench Collapse at Texas Construction Site<\/h3>\n

CONROE, TX — A fatal trench collapse<\/a> at a construction site in Conroe has prompted an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, after one worker was killed and another injured during a rescue operation. Emergency crews responded to the incident just before noon on April 11 near South Loop 336 and FM 3083 East, where two workers were trapped in a trench at a residential construction site, according to local officials. Authorities said the collapse occurred when dirt fell into the trench, trapping the workers below. Fire crews worked quickly to rescue those involved, but the situation turned fatal. A second worker was pulled from the trench at approximately 1:10 p.m. and transported to a nearby hospital. The condition of the injured worker has not been disclosed. During the emergency response, a third individual suffered a medical issue while attempting to assist those trapped but declined transportation to a hospital.<\/p>\n

Three Workers Killed in deadly Philadelphia parking garage collapse<\/h3>\n

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Crews have recovered the bodies of two missing ironworkers after a deadly parking garage collapse<\/a> in the Grays Ferry section of South Philadelphia last week, officials confirmed Monday morning. The recovery marks the end of a days-long operation that began after the structure partially collapsed on Wednesday, killing one worker and trapping others beneath the debris. A garage that was being built in South Philadelphia was demolished after partially collapsing last week, killing three construction workers. Just before 5 a.m. on Monday morning, dozens of Local 401 ironworkers gathered in front of the rubble to pay their respects to their colleagues who died in the collapse. Members were seen in hard hats and neon-colored hoodies embracing each other before departing the site. Family members of the missing workers were also present, including relatives of Matthew Kane<\/strong>, one of the victims. Kane\u2019s cousin described him as a devoted father and experienced ironworker with more than 20 years on the job. He leaves behind a wife and two children. Local 401 identified the other two victims\u00a0as\u00a0Mark Scott Jr<\/strong>. and Stepan Shevchuk.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lineman killed, another hurt in electrocution on East Berry Street, police say<\/h3>\n

FORT WORTH, TX — An electrical worker was killed<\/a> and another injured in an electrocution Friday afternoon, Fort Worth police said. The men were working in a bucket lift truck in the 5800 block of East Berry Street at around 1:43 p.m. when someone called police to report the incident, according to online call records.<\/p>\n

Deadly Tanker Truck Explosion Follows Driver’s Leak Report<\/h3>\n

MOORESVILLE, NC — A truck driver reported a leak on his chemical tanker<\/a> just 20 minutes before the truck exploded, killing him and injuring one other person at a beverage plant in Mooresville, North Carolina, according to an NTSB report. The driver had alerted his company about the leak, but the explosion occurred shortly after. The truck was carrying a load of sodium hydroxide, a common industrial cleaner, when the driver noticed a leak and reported it to his company. Approximately 20 minutes later, the tanker truck exploded, killing the driver and injuring one plant worker. The NTSB is now investigating the incident to determine if the explosion and subsequent death could have been prevented.<\/p>\n

Tow Operator Keith Rhew Killed On The Job In Maryland<\/h3>\n

BALTIMORE, MD — A Maryland tow operator and father of two who \u201calways put in the work\u201d never made it home after a tragic work accident<\/a>, leaving behind a grieving family and a community now stepping up to support them. Keith Allen Rhew<\/strong>, 45, died on Friday, April 3, following a work-related incident, according to loved ones and his obituary. He leaves behind his wife, Erica, and two young children, Luke and Olivia, who are now facing a future without their father.<\/p>\n

Police investigate murder-suicide at East Flamingo Road hotel; two men found dead<\/h3>\n

LAS VEGAS, NV — The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is investigating what they believe was an unprovoked murder-suicide<\/a> at a hotel in the 1500 block of East Flamingo Road near South Maryland Parkway. LVMPD Dispatch received a call at 3:41 p.m. about a shot being heard, according to Lt. Monique Rodriguez. Officers responded and found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. Police said a witness told officers an elderly man was seen leaving the victim\u2019s location and going into a nearby room, and another gunshot was heard. Officers entered that room and found an elderly man in his 80s with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Clark County Fire Department responded and confirmed both men were dead, police said. Investigators said the victim was an Asian man in his 30s who was newly employed at the hotel. The elderly man was a resident at the hotel, and police said it was unknown whether he was a resident of Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

Worker dies after being pinned under pipes at Reinke Manufacturing<\/h3>\n

DESHLER, NE — A 35-year-old Deshler man was killed in an industrial accident<\/a> Tuesday afternoon at Reinke Manufacturing, where he was found pinned beneath several large pipes that had come loose. The Thayer County Sheriff\u2019s Office said deputies and Deshler Fire and Rescue responded at about 1:45 p.m. April 8, 2026, to Reinke Manufacturing at 1040 Road 5300 for a medical call. Once on scene, responders were directed to an area of the facility that houses bundles of pipe. Trenton Fuentez<\/strong>, 35, of Deshler, a Reinke employee, was located beneath several large pipes that \u201chad apparently come loose from an elevated bundle,\u201d the sheriff\u2019s office said. Fuentez was pronounced dead at the scene.<\/p>\n

Hanover County: Truck driver dead in early-morning accident on I-295<\/h3>\n

HANOVER COUNTY, VA — A tractor-trailer driver is dead<\/a> from injuries in an accident on I-295 northbound at the 27 mile marker in Hanover County on Sunday morning. Virginia State Police responded to the scene at 4:49 a.m. According to VSP, a tractor-trailer tanker transporting milk was traveling northbound when it ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a disabled, unoccupied vehicle on the shoulder. The tractor-trailer then continued forward, breached the guardrail, and struck multiple trees. The driver was pronounced deceased at the scene by Henrico Fire and Rescue. The identity of the deceased is being withheld pending notification to the next of kin. The two right northbound lanes remain closed and are expected to be closed for an undetermined period while crews work to clear the scene. This crash remains under investigation.<\/p>\n

Police identify worker who died after being trapped by forklift at East Nashville construction site<\/h3>\n

NASHVILLE, TN — The Metro Nashville Police Department has identified a man who tragically died after being trapped by a forklift at a construction site in East Nashville. Police identified the man as 42-year-old Stephen Mattson<\/strong>. On Wednesday morning, the Nashville Fire Department responded to the construction site at 3015 Ambrose Avenue at about 10 a.m. after reports that a worker had become \u201cwedged\u201d between a forklift and another piece of machinery.<\/p>\n

Venice man accused of killing boss during fight<\/h3>\n

VENICE, FL — One man is dead and another has been arrested following a fight between an employer and employee<\/a> in Venice, according to police. According to police, a witness saw two men fighting and one being dragged toward a pick-up truck. Then, the witness reportedly saw the suspect, later identified as 42-year-old Richard Barker, take off, leaving the victim, 67-year-old Jeffrey Hubbard<\/strong> at the scene. Officers found Hubbard who, despite life-saving measures, died from his injuries. According to investigators, Hubbard was Barker\u2019s boss at a business where the fight occurred. Investigators said after Barker was detained, he admitted responsibility for the incident. Barker was charged with second-degree murder and tampering with evidence.<\/p>\n

Truck driver killed in crash on Highway 30 in eastern Iowa<\/h3>\n

ATKINS, IA — A truck driver was killed in a crash<\/a> on U.S. Highway 30 near Atkins in eastern Iowa on Monday night. The Iowa State Patrol said a driver from Cedar Rapids rear-ended a pickup truck, causing the truck to go into a ditch, cross the median, and roll several times. Authorities said no charges have been filed at this time.<\/p>\n

Woman killed during argument over onion rings at drive-thru at north St. Louis County Steak \u2018n Shake<\/h3>\n

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO — A woman was shot and killed while working the drive-thru<\/a> at a Steak \u2018n Shake in north St. Louis County on Wednesday night. St. Louis County police said they were called to the Steak \u2018n Shake in the 11000 block of Bellefontaine Road around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, where two workers were shot. Chauncia Lashell Meekins<\/strong> was killed. A male worker was injured. Police said a confrontation happened in the drive-thru, and the driver shot through the window. Meekins\u2019 mother, Tamela Washington, said the argument was over onion rings. \u201cIt\u2019s never that serious to take a person\u2019s life over fast food,\u201d Washington said. Her daughter was weeks away from celebrating her 33rd birthday. \u201cI couldn\u2019t believe it. I just talked to my daughter. We were talking about her birthday. She wanted me to cook her a special meal, her favorite meal. Her birthday is April 23 of this month. Instead of celebrating her birthday, I will be burying my daughter for some senseless act over some onion rings,\u201d said Washington.<\/p>\n

3 people, including an Oklahoma trooper and child, killed in crash on I-35 in OKC: What we know<\/h3>\n

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK — Authorities say a trooper and two other people, including a 5-year-old girl, were killed in a crash<\/a> on Interstate 35 in Oklahoma City. The crash happened shortly before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday on I-35 between Britton Road and Hefner Road. Oklahoma Highway Patrol officials said the incident is considered a crime scene. The trooper has been identified as Vernon Brake<\/strong>, who is survived by his wife and two children. Brake served the Oklahoma Highway Patrol for nearly 20 years, with a significant time assigned commercial motor vehicle enforcement. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol also identified the woman killed as 36-year-old Mercedes Bayne of OKC. The 5-year-old girl was her daughter, Ariana.<\/p>\n

2 Metro employees dead after shooting in Friendship Heights<\/h3>\n

FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS, DC — Two Metro employees were found shot and killed<\/a> in the Friendship Heights area of Northwest D.C., and the shooting appears to be a murder-suicide, police say. The shooting happened overnight on 44th Street between Garrison and Jenifer streets NW right in front of the WMATA Western Bus Division depot. Officers found the men unconscious suffering from gunshot wounds about 1 a.m. Medics pronounced them dead at the scene, police said. D.C. police said 44-year-old Terrell Cross<\/strong> shot 42-year-old Robert Stokes<\/strong> before shooting himself. Stokes’ wife told News4 their family is heartbroken over his killing. Stokes leaves behind four children who range from 5 to 18 years old. His wife said the shooting happened after a personal dispute between Stokes and his coworker.<\/p>\n

York County EMT dies on duty<\/h3>\n

YORK COUNTY, PA — The Dover Area Ambulance Club said it\u2019s \u201cat a loss for words\u201d after losing an EMT while on duty. Kevin Brehm<\/strong>, 60, died Thursday, the club announced. Dover Area Ambulance said Brehm suffered a medical event while on duty<\/a> at the station. The organization said his co-workers immediately realized the urgency of Brehm\u2019s condition and provided medical care, including placing him in an ambulance. Brehm passed away while receiving care at York Hospital. Northeast Adams Fire and EMS remembered Brehm as a mentor to EMTs in the region. He was a volunteer with the department since he was a teenager, it said.<\/p>\n

Deputy killed in Porterville shooting, suspect also dead, Tulare County sheriff says<\/h3>\n

PORTERVILLE, CA — A Tulare County Sheriff’s Office detective was shot and killed during a confrontation in Porterville on Thursday.<\/a>
\nTulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux said that deputies were serving an eviction notice at a home on Brian Avenue near North Salisbury Street around 10:40 a.m. when shots were fired. Authorities said the suspect, identified as 59-year-old David Morales, barricaded himself inside the home and was believed to be armed with a high-powered rifle. Multiple shots were exchanged. Detective Randy Hoppert<\/strong> was struck, and after a tactical rescue was taken to Sierra View Medical Center in Porterville, where he later died. Morales was killed after being run over by an armored vehicle after nearly seven hours of terror.<\/p>\n

Florida Tractor-Trailer Driver Killed In I-78 Hit-And-Run In Berks County<\/h3>\n

BERKS COUNTY, PA — A tractor-trailer driver was killed in a hit-and-run crash<\/a> on Interstate 78 in Berks County, authorities announced. Phillip Daniel Henderson<\/strong>, 33, of Bessemer, Florida, was struck and killed after pulling onto the shoulder of I-78 eastbound just east of Exit 13 in Bethel Township, according to Berks County Coroner Matthew J. Stitzel. The crash happened around 11:15 a.m. on Friday, April 10, when Henderson exited his truck to adjust his load and was hit by a passing box truck that did not stop, the coroner\u2019s office said. Henderson was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:20 p.m., authorities said.<\/p>\n

NH man cited for DUI following fatal crash on I-89<\/h3>\n

HARTFORD, VT — A fatal crash<\/a> involving a FedEx tractor-trailer shut down Interstate 89 in Hartford Thursday night. Vermont State Police say southbound lanes were closed between the exits in White River Junction and Sharon around 8:15 p.m. and that they reopened around 4 a.m. Friday. Police say Gabriel Vestal of Rochester, New Hampshire, caused the crash that killed the truck driver, identified as Andrew Pott<\/strong>, 35, of Burke. Vestal was taken to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. Pott was pronounced dead at the scene. Police did no immediately release details on what caused the crash. They say Vestal was cited for DUI and is due in court.<\/p>\n

Kansas volunteer firefighter dies after training exercise<\/h3>\n

WICHITA, KS — Fire departments across the state are mourning the loss of a veteran firefighter this week during a training exercise<\/a>. The Kansas State Fire Marshal\u2019s Office said Friday that Carl \u201cLevi\u201d Evans<\/strong>, a volunteer firefighter with Greeley County Fire & Rescue, died in the line of duty after suffering a medical problem during training. Levi\u2019s commitment, courage, and selflessness will never be forgotten. We stand with his family, friends, and department during this difficult time. Greeley County Emergency Management shared a post from Greeley County Fire Chief Dustyn Smith paying tribute to Evans, who leaves behind a wife and two sons.<\/p>\n

Semi-truck driver dies after crash caused by debris on I-95, FHP says<\/h3>\n

VOLUSIA COUNTY, FL — A semi-truck driver was killed in a crash<\/a> on I-95 just north of mile marker 256 after striking debris in the roadway, according to the Florida Highway Patrol The 2022 Cascadia Freightliner semi tractor-trailer was traveling northbound in the inside lane when it encountered metal debris blocking the lane. The driver swerved to the right but still struck the debris, FHP said. The vehicle then swerved back to the left, ran off the roadway into the center median, and collided with several trees. According to the report, the impact caused the left side of the semi-truck to be pulled apart. The driver who has yet to be identified, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. The crash remains under investigation.<\/p>\n

Worker dies after tree trimming incident in Tempe<\/h3>\n

TEMPE, AZ — A worker is dead after a tree-trimming incident<\/a> involving a palm tree in Tempe, the city’s fire department said. On Sunday, crews responded to the scene near Mill Avenue and Apache Boulevard for reports of a person injured in a tree. According to officials, a worker was trimming a palm tree when a section of palm fronds, commonly referred to as a \u201cpalm skirt,\u201d fell onto him. First responders tended to the worker, but he was pronounced dead on the scene. The crews then conducted a recovery in order to retrieve the body from the tree. The man has been identified as 57-year-old Flavio Sesmas Maya<\/strong>. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.<\/p>\n

Fatal Work Accident Spurs Hawai\u02bbi Immigrant\u2019s Widow To Fight Back<\/h3>\n

HONOLULU, HI — An undocumented Chinese warehouse worker faced safety hazards at a Honolulu job site<\/a> that a lawsuit says cost him his life after 87 weeks in the hospital. He was desperate for any way to support his wife. So Zhenxiong Lin<\/strong> left China and made his way via Vietnam to Mexico, the U.S. border and, in mid-2024, to Hawai\u02bbi. Days after arriving in Honolulu, Lin was in an accident at his new job that left him hospitalized at The Queen\u2019s Medical Center. He would never recover. Eighty-seven weeks after he was injured, he died early this month, on April 3. His death is now central to a pending civil lawsuit against his former employer. And his story, as it comes to light, offers a window into the vulnerabilities of undocumented immigrant workers.<\/p>\n

Tennessee deputy killed in Highway 111 crash involving disabled vehicle<\/h3>\n

HAMILTON COUNTY, TN — A Hamilton County Sheriff\u2019s Office deputy has died after a crash<\/a> Wednesday evening on Highway 111, according to the sheriff\u2019s office. Deputy Landon Faulkner<\/strong> collided with a disabled vehicle in a travel lane and later died at the hospital from his injuries. Sheriff Austin Garrett, Chief Deputy Spencer Daniels, and members of the sheriff\u2019s office said they are \u201cgreatly saddened\u201d by Faulkner\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

Florida firefighter dies on duty at airport<\/h3>\n

Fort Lauderdale, FL — Two government agencies are mourning the loss of a colleague. The Broward County Sheriff\u2019s Office announced Sunday that Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue firefighter and paramedic Steven Lepselter<\/strong>, 54, died Sunday morning while on duty<\/a>. The sheriff\u2019s office said around 6:55 a.m., deputies and fire rescue personnel responded to a medical call inside the Palm Garage at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. When they arrived, they found Lepselter unresponsive on the ground. Fire Rescue transported Lepselter to Broward Health Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.<\/p>\n

H-E-B says warehouse worker died days after on-the-job accident<\/h3>\n

SAN ANTONIO, TX – H-E-B says it is mourning the death of a warehouse employee after a workplace accident<\/a> earlier this month, though the company said it has not received confirmation about what led to the employee\u2019s passing. H-E-B said the employee was involved in an accident at work on Saturday, April 4. The company said he was treated on site and then chose to be taken to a clinic. \u201cWorkplace safety is our top priority at H-E-B,\u201d the company said in a statement, adding, \u201cOur team is heartbroken by the recent passing of one of our Partners who worked at one of our warehouses.\u201d According to H-E-B, the employee was released from the clinic the same day with limited restrictions, went home and had follow-up appointments scheduled. \u201cOn Wednesday night, we were alerted that he passed away,\u201d H-E-B said. \u201cAt this point, we have not received confirmation about what led to his passing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Amazon warehouse worker died on the job at Oregon facility<\/h3>\n

Troutdale, OR — An Amazon employee at the Troutdale, Oregon warehouse passed away at work<\/a> last week, a company spokesperson confirmed to TechCrunch. According to a report from the Western Edge, an independent investigative outlet covering the Pacific Northwest, the worker collapsed on the floor at the PDX9 warehouse and lay dead as employees continued to work around him. On a Reddit forum for Amazon fulfillment center workers, several people claiming to work at PDX9 said that the building had been especially hot after soundproof curtains were installed, which limited airflow. They speculated that the heat could have contributed to the employee\u2019s death, as it would compound the physical demands of fulfillment center work. According to the Western Edge, some employees noticed that the building was cooler when they returned to work the next day. Amazon, however, said that Oregon\u2019s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) determined the incident to be non-work related.<\/p>\n

Worker dies after ‘boom lift’ topples off flatbed truck in Clifton<\/h3>\n

Clifton, CT– Witnesses in a Clifton neighborhood say a boom lift with a bucket on front was being removed from a flatbed truck when it toppled over onto its side and killed a worker<\/a>. According to Clifton city documents, a two-story, 15,000-square-foot school is being built at 294 Main Ave. The equipment was going to be used at that location.
\nPolice have not yet identified the victim.<\/p>\n

Co-worker charged with murder after man’s body found at worksite<\/h3>\n

SPRING, Texas (KTRK) — Harris County deputies say an arrest has been made after a man was found dead at a worksite<\/a> in the Spring area over the weekend. At about 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said detectives responded to 23217 Goldensong Court after a woman called 911, saying she found her brother dead at a house he had been working on for the last several weeks. Family members told deputies they grew concerned after not hearing from him since Friday and said his truck was missing. Investigators said the victim, later identified as Juan Salinas<\/strong>, had severe trauma to his upper body and was found downstairs in the gutted home.<\/p>\n

Shipping clerk killed after being crushed between truck, trailer<\/h3>\n

OGEMAW COUNTY, Mich. (WNEM) – A 50-year-old Rose City shipping clerk has died after being crushed between an industrial truck and a flatbed trailer<\/a>. The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) said the clerk was attempted to load a plastic injection mold onto the trailer using the truck on April 8. The clerk was taken to a hospital where they died during surgery.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How workers died last week: trench collapse, parking lot collapse, crushed by a forklift, tanker truck explosion, pinned under pipes, medical emergency, grain bin incident, electrocuted to death, tree-trimming, shootings, and vehicular collisions. On average, 100 workers die every week from traumatic injuries on the job in the United States.\u00a0More than 20 times as many […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":13735,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[113,144],"tags":[139,56,158,170,142,136,162,188,141,135,138,225,216,62,165,154,161,117,155,130,164,129,115],"class_list":["post-13728","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trench-collapse","category-weekly-toll","tag-arizona","tag-california","tag-connecticut","tag-delaware","tag-florida","tag-hawaii","tag-iowa","tag-kansas","tag-maryland","tag-michigan","tag-missouri","tag-nebraska","tag-nevada","tag-new-jersey","tag-north-carolina","tag-oklahoma","tag-oregon","tag-pennsylvania","tag-tennessee","tag-texas","tag-vermont","tag-virginia","tag-washington-dc"],"yoast_head":"\nNo Rest for the Workers: The Weekly Toll - 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