Posted with permission from Confined Space, a newsletter of workplace safety and labor issues.
Worker killed after collision with SUV on Fargo airport runway
FARGO, ND — A contract worker painting stripes on the runway of Hector International Airport was killed in a collision with an SUV early Monday, July 31, 2017, said Shawn Dobberstein, executive director of the Fargo Airport Authority. The name of the worker has not yet been released. The worker was not from the area, Dobberstein said. Dobberstein said the worker was using a vehicle to paint lines on the runway when it was hit by an SUV driven by an Airport Authority employee.
Man dies in Siloam Springs workplace accident
Siloam Springs, AR — A Siloam Springs man was involved in a workplace accident earlier this week and died from his injuries. Keith Brosch was involved in a workplace accident at Home Brands, located at 4560 East Highway 412, on Wednesday, July 26, according to a release from the Siloam Springs Police Department. Brosch’s cause of death was determined to be from an accidental electrocution and subsequent elevated fall, according to a second press release. No criminal act is believed to have occurred, and the investigation into the death is still ongoing.
Construction worker dies after being struck in Severn
Baltimore, MD — A highway construction worker died has from injuries he suffered when he was struck by a truck while working on Route 175 Wednesday. Walter I. Gonzalez-Lopez, 56, of Baltimore died Sunday while being treated at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. At about 9:25 p.m. county police officers responded to a report of two pedestrians struck on Route 175, known locally as Annapolis Road. Gonzalez-Lopez was struck alongside co-worker Edin O. Romero-Maldonado, 19, also of Baltimore.
Kevin Ramsey, veteran Detroit firefighter, dies after back-to-back fires
Detroit, MI — Kevin Ramsey suffered an apparent heart attack Saturday afternoon. He started having chest pains after battling two fires. “He was a wonderful, wonderful guy and a hell of fireman,” said Michael Nevin, of the Detroit Fire Fighters Association. Around 10 a.m., Ramsey and his squad were called to East Outer Drive. He and the unit then moved right over to a second fire on Mackay Street by 1:30 p.m. By the time the engine returned to fire station nearly four hours later shortly after 2 p.m., the 50-year-old was going into cardiac arrest.
Caledonia man dies in industrial accident
CALEDONIA, Mich.–A West Michigan man died after getting stuck in a grain elevator in Kent County.Police said an off-duty employee drove by the Caledonia Farmers Elevator on East Main Street around 3 p.m. The employee noticed that the 56-year-old victim had not finished working which was considered unusual. The employee searched the building and found the man had been in an accident. Several departments worked to rescue him, but he died at the scene. The victim has been identified as Daniel Hibma of Caledonia.
Asarco employee killed at mine is identified
Sahuarita, AZ — A 41-year-old Asarco employee was killed Thursday night at the open pit mine west of Sahuarita. The Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner identified the man as Gabriel Benitez of Tucson. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department received a call shortly after 9 p.m. stating a large dump truck had run over a pickup truck at the Asarco site west of Pima Mine Road, said Lt. Eric Johnson, head of the Green Valley substation. The male driver of the pickup truck was pronounced dead at the scene. A press release from Asarco on Friday called the accident “an isolated incident” and said nobody else was injured. “Work-related injuries are felt deeply in ASARCO’s company and community, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and co-workers,” according to the release.
Indiana Doctor Killed After Dispute Over Opioid Prescription: Authorities
MISHAWAKA, IN — An Indiana man fatally shot a doctor after a dispute during an appointment where the doctor refused to prescribe the man’s wife opioids, authorities said. St. Joseph County Prosecutor Ken Cotter told reporters at a news conference that the man, 48-year-old Michael Jarvis, became upset when Dr. Todd Graham, 56, indicated either to him or to his wife that he would not be prescribing the wife opioids. “A conflict and an argument ensued,” Cotter told reporters. “It was Dr. Graham’s opinion that chronic pain did not require prescription drugs.”
Officer killed while responding to crash was shot 14 times
INDIANAPOLIS, IN — A police officer had no reason to suspect he was in danger before he was fatally shot while trying to help two people inside an overturned car in a yard along a busy Indianapolis street, his chief said Friday. Police arrested 28-year-old Jason Brown, of Indianapolis, on a preliminary murder charge for the Thursday afternoon killing of Southport police Lt. Aaron Allan. Authorities haven’t disclosed a possible motive for the attack.Court documents say Allan sustained 14 gunshot wounds, WISH-TV reported
Man dies after falling off ladder at Oak Island construction site
BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – A man died after falling off a ladder at a construction site in Oak Island Thursday morning. According to Fire Chief Chris Anselmo, the accident happened around 8:20 a.m. in the 800 block of Ocean Drive. Anselmo said the man was doing gutter work at a home that was nearing completion when he fell off a ladder and plunged 30-40 feet. A co-worker called 911.
One killed in Iredell County
Statesville, NC — A man was killed when he was pinned between a backhoe and a tree in Iredell County on Friday morning. The call came in around 11:10 a.m., according to the Iredell County Fire Marshal. Emergency responders were on their way to what was described as a trench collapse with a man buried in a hole. As soon as rescue workers arrived they knew the man had died. Officials identified the man as 59-year-old Christopher Anthony Novelli. WBTV’s Sky3 was over the scene, showing images of a piece of heavy equipment over a large trench. The incident occurred behind a house in the 1200 block of Old Mountain Road. The Iredell County Fire Marshal said that Novelli was working in this trench when the back hoe rolled backwards and pinned him against a tree, killing him.
Authorities ID truck driver killed in Smithville 18-wheeler collision
Austin, TX — Authorities identified the truck driver killed in a fiery 18-wheeler collision in Smithville Thursday as 43-year-old John Sherman Spradlin of Austin.According to Smithville police, Spradlin was driving a gravel truck eastbound on Texas 71 near the Smithville Regional Hospital when he struck the back of another gravel truck that was turning right onto Hill Road and was split between two lanes. Police said both 18-wheelers rolled, and the one Spradlin was driving caught fire.
Worker killed in industrial accident in New Jersey
LOPATCONG TWP., N.J. – Police have identified the worker killed on the job at Berry Plastics in Warren County, New Jersey. A preliminary investigation found Noel Oquendo, 46, of Washington Boro, sustained a fatal head injury while operating a machine that puts labels on bottles. The official cause of death will be determined by the Morris County Medical Examiner’s office. OSHA is also investigating.
Gas station employee went outside to empty trash. Soon after, he was shot dead.
Sacramento, CA — With the exception of the bullet holes in the front facade, things looked deceptively normal Wednesday at the old Florin Chevron less than 24 hours after a popular clerk was gunned down by men loitering in the parking lot. People paid for gas, picked up ice, left with snacks. At around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, a gas station employee, identified as Simranjit Singh, 20, of Elk Grove was shot to death outside of the station by men who had earlier assaulted his co-worker.“It could have been any of us,” said Noemi Hoogeveen, manager of the Quick Stop station across the street. Shooing transients and bad apples from the property is an unfortunate part of the job, Hoogeveen said.
Coroner: Coal Mine Worker Killed; Run Over by Own Bulldozer
POTTSVILLE, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania mine worker has been killed after he was run over by his own bulldozer. The Schuylkill (SKOOL’-kil) County coroner says 28-year-old Andrew Oxenrider died Tuesday morning at the Reading Anthracite property in Cass township. Township police say Oxenrider either fell or got pulled out of the cab of his bulldozer or otherwise exited it and fell under its tracks about 9:40 a.m. The machine then ran down an embankment on its own before an obstruction stopped it.
Electrician found dead at Prospect Heights
Prospect Heights, VA — A Louisa County contractor was found dead in an Orange school July 15. According to Orange County Sheriff Mark Amos, electrician Darrel E. Gillespie, 56, of Troy, was discovered dead in Prospect Heights Middle School Saturday, July 15. Gillespie, an employee of Design Electric, had been working on a project to troubleshoot recessed lighting at the middle school, according to Orange County Schools Facilities Coordinator Doug Arnold. Gillespie was last seen on school security camera footage Friday, July 14 at approximately 4:10 p.m., the sheriff reported. School custodian George Ellis returned to the school the next day and noticed Gillespie’s truck in the same location as the day before and discovered his body partially suspended from the drop ceiling, with one leg remaining on his ladder, Amos said. The presumed cause of death was electrocution, but the sheriff said the body was turned over to the medical examiner for an autopsy.
Lebanon man killed while working on tractor
HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ – A 33-year-old man was killed Monday while working on a tractor in Lebanon Township, according to Hunterdon County Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns III. The victim was identified as Randall Smith of Lebanon Township, according to Kearns and Lebanon Township Police Chief Jack Gale. “A preliminary investigation revealed Mr. Smith died from injuries suffered while repairing farm equipment at a farm located on Forge Hill Road in Lebanon Township,” Kearns said in a news release.
Police: Man dies at workplace after vehicle backs into him
SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Sioux City police are investigating after an employee died after being pinned by a truck at a steel business. The man was pushed between storage racks inside TriView Steel and Supply Friday when another person accidentally backed a vehicle into him, police said. The man was taken to Mercy Medical Center, where he later died. The victim’s identity has not yet been released.
Honaker High School standout athlete killed in work accident
Bristol, TN — A Honaker High School student has died from a work accident which occurred at Blue Ridge Chrysler Jeep Dodge in Russell County. Brandon Looney was an All-State baseball player who was 18 years old and a rising senior at Honaker High School. According to Honaker Funeral Home, he had obtained an auto mechanic’s certificate and was pursing a dream of becoming a mechanic and owning his own shop.
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