Posted with permission from Jordan Barab.
Two Employees Killed in Robbery at Upstate New York Chili’s Restaurant
DeWitt, NY — A Chili’s restaurant was robbed early Saturday morning, and two employees who were closing up have been shot and killed. The incident occurred just after 1 a.m. on Saturday morning at a Chili’s Bar and Grill in DeWitt, New York. The chain was part of the ShoppingTown Mall on East Erie Boulevard, where officers responded to the call at 1:04 a.m., according to the Post Standard. The Chili’s closes around midnight most days, according to the website for that location. One employee was found dead at the scene, and the other was transported to a hospital. The second employee died of his injuries there, officials said. Neither slain employee has been identified, but police did say that both victims were male.
Hooper employee dies after falling into pipe
HOOPER, Utah — A city employee died Saturday after falling head first into a pipe. Medical personnel were called on a possible drowning about 3:45 p.m. but the man was determined to be deceased when they arrived, said Weber County Sheriff’s Sgt. Cortney Ryan. The employee, who was in his 50s, was working on a sewer system when he fell into a plastic pipe that houses a water meter, said Weber Fire Battalion Chief Mark Lund. There was about 3 feet of water at the bottom of the pipe. A co-worker unsuccessfully tried to rescue the man, but couldn’t get him out. He called 911 and ran to nearby homes for help.
Kansas sheriff’s deputy shot, killed in line of duty
Sedgwick County, KS — A sheriff’s deputy in Kansas was shot and killed in the line of duty on Sunday, investigators said. Sedgwick County Deputy Robert Kunze III, 41, died Sunday afternoon after responding to a call about a suspicious character, officials said. Kunze approached the suspect who was armed with a .40-caliber handgun, and when the deputy tried to apprehend the suspect, a struggle ensued. When backup arrived around 1:50 p.m., both Kunze and the suspect had been shot. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene. Kunze was taken to a hospital where he later died.
Construction worker from Bartlett killed in Tri-State Tollway crash
Rosemont, IL — A construction worker was killed in a Friday night crash on the Tri-State Tollway near Rosemont, Illinois State Police said. The worker was identified as Frank Caputo, 61. The crash occurred in an area where two lanes were closed for construction on northbound I-294, near milepost 41. A car, a black 2014 Infiniti, crossed into the closed construction area and hit Caputo around 10:15 p.m. Friday, police said. The Infinity went on to hit a parked, unoccupied white construction van, police said.
Construction Worker Fatally Struck by Suspected Drunk Driver
Dallas, TX — A construction worker was killed on Interstate 35 near Overton Road in Dallas early Thursday morning after an accident involving a suspected drunk driver. A construction crew was working to remove a large sign when a pickup truck drove through the construction zone and struck the sign. The sign then struck the worker and killed him. The driver of the pickup truck failed a field sobriety test. He was arrested for drunk driving and may face intoxication manslaughter charges.
Undercover officer shot in head during attempted bar robbery
FORT WORTH, Texas (KTRK) — Fort Worth police say an undercover officer is dead after he was shot during a robbery at a bar. According to investigators, police officer Garrett Hull was shot in the head Thursday night by one of the three suspects attempting to rob customers. Police say there was an exchange of gunfire between officers and the suspect who shot Hull. The suspect was shot and killed.
Clark County PUD employee killed in three-vehicle crash
BATTLE GROUND, Wash. – The driver of a Clark County Public Utilities Department truck was killed in a three-vehicle crash in Battle Ground Friday. Investigators believe the crash occurred while one of the drivers was trying to pass. Police say Joseph T. Dudley, 18, from Vancouver, was driving a 2004 GMC Envoy SUV. Albert M. Apana, 56, of Vancouver, was driving a 2009 Ford F-450 utility truck owned by Clark PUD. James M. Moore, 44, of Yacolt, was driving a 1974 Ford pickup truck. Apana died at the scene of the crash and Dudley and Moore were both injured, but not seriously.
Man falls several stories to his death while working on new apartment high-rise in Birmingham
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Birmingham fire officials say a construction worker fell to his death while working on a new luxury apartment highrise on Highland Avenue Thursday afternoon. Marcus Dewayne Billingsley, 29, was in a stairway area on the 13th floor of the 17-story Vesta Apartment Development when he fell to the 9th floor. Fire officials said the man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name hasn’t been released. BL Harbert International is the general contractor and one of three companies developing the 390,000-square-foot complex.
DoubleTree hotel deadly shooting: Tips lead to arrest of 17-year-old suspect
Dayton, OH — A hotel worker was killed in a shooting late Thursday night at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel near the Dayton Mall, and police are seeking help to track down the gunman. Jayren Graham, 19, of Miami Twp. — identified by a 911 caller as dishwasher for the hotel — was killed, according to the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office.
Construction Worker Killed By Collapsed Sunset Park Wall
BROOKLYN, NY — A construction worker who was buried under the debris of a 20-foot-tall brick wall was found one day after it collapsed on top of him, police said. Emergency responders spent hours searching for Luis Almonte, 47, after a wall collapsed at the construction site on 39th Street and Seventh Avenue Wednesday afternoon, said police. His body was found Thursday and Almonte, of Inwood, was pronounced dead on the scene, an NYPD spokesman said. Almonte had been clearing the foundation below the brick wall when it toppled at about 1:30 p.m., officials said. While several other workers escaped, Almonte was buried under the rubble.
Canton man killed in workplace accident
Holly Springs, GA — A 20-year-old Canton man was killed Thursday morning in a workplace accident at the East Gate Pallets plant at 150 Bobo Trail, near Holly Springs. At 8:05 a.m. Thursday, Cherokee Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a person injured call at the East Gate Pallet facility. Employee Tabor Daniel Hayes of Canton, was involved in what appeared to be a workplace accident involving a table saw, according to Sheriff’s Office spokesman Jay Baker. Hayes was pronounced dead at the scene.
Local Mine Worker Dies after Fire
Dugger, IN – We’re learning more details into the investigation of the death of a local coal miner in a fire. Just after 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sullivan County Sheriff Clark Cottom released a statement on the latest in the investigation. A heavy equipment operator has passed away from injuries received, after a piece of equipment he was operating caught fire this past Friday. Sullivan County Sheriff’s dispatch received the call from employees at the Bear Run Mine at 3:48 AM. The heavy equipment operator had been operating a large haul truck, when it suddenly caught fire. The driver, who jumped from the piece of equipment, was attended to by mine rescue personnel, before being transported to Terre Haute Regional Hospital. The man, who is from the Freelandville area, passed away from his injuries.
Worker dies inside Ford Sterling Axle Plant in Sterling Heights
Sterling Heights,MI — A worker at the Ford Sterling Axle Plant in Sterling Heights was found dead in a bathroom inside the facility on Thursday morning but police do not suspect foul play. “There was nothing suspicious found at the scene,” said Sterling Heights Police Lt. Mario Bastianelli. The death was also not work-related.* Bastianelli said the worker, who was 24-years-old, reported to co-workers that he did not feel well. He then went to the bathroom and was found dead around 12:10 a.m. Co-workers suspect he may have fallen at some point before using the toilet but police have not confirmed that information. (*JB: “not work-related,” but “he may have fallen.” Needs more checking.)
Sanitation Worker Killed In Yaphank When Struck by Motorcycle, Officials Say
Yaphank, NY – -Suffolk County Police Sixth Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that killed a sanitation worker in Yaphank on Wednesday, September 12. Marlon Jovel was picking up garbage on Long Island Ave. when he was struck by a 1992 Suzuki motorcycle traveling westbound on Long Island Avenue at a high rate of speed. Jovel, 31, of Brentwood, was transported to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue where he was pronounced dead.
Man killed in accident at lumber company
TIGERTON, WI — A man was killed in a workplace accident Thursday morning in Tigerton. The Shawano County Sheriff’s Office says the 46-year-old Tigerton man was injured while working with logging equipment around 8 a.m. at Tigerton Lumber Company, 121 Cedar St. Rescue crews were unable to save the man.
La. officer killed in highway collision
MONTGOMERY, La. — Officer Kirt Ricks III of the Montgomery Police Department died Sept. 7 as a result of injuries sustained in a traffic collision. Ricks, 24, lost control of his 2006 Ford Crown Victoria patrol vehicle and overcorrected into oncoming traffic, where he struck another vehicle. Neither Ricks nor the other driver, 65-year-old Gary W. Pinder, were wearing seatbealts at the time of the collision. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Officer Ricks is the 33rd law enforcement officer to lose his life in a traffic-related incident in 2018.
1 Killed, 2 Injured in Barn Collapse
KNOX, Maine (AP) — Authorities say a 55-year-old man died when part of a barn collapsed during demolition in the Waldo County town of Knox. Sheriff Jeffrey Trafton said workers were dismantling the structure when the roof collapsed Thursday morning, trapping one of the workers. He said William Viles, of Belfast, died despite the efforts of contractors and first responders to extricate him. Trafton said two other workers were injured. One of them was taken to a hospital. Suydam & Sons of Northport was the contractor dismantling the structure. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is conducting an investigation.
Benson worker dies after doors fall inside container
Guam — A warehouse employee died on Wednesday after several doors fell on him as he was unloading them from a container at Benson Guam Enterprise. Jaciyn Matanane, public affairs officer for Naval Hospital Guam, confirmed his death Wednesday afternoon. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration learned about the incident and they are investigating, said Jose Carnevali spokesman for U.S. Department of Labor. Warehouse manager William Kho identified the injured worker as Sofar Pwechar. Kho said he saw Pwechar inside the shipping container, and a few doors pushing against his back. Pwechar was sitting, and it looked like the doors fell on him, Kho said.
Driver killed in 210 Freeway collision in Pasadena identified as Fontana ma
Pasadena, CA — Authorities identified the truck driver killed Tuesday, Sept. 11, in a two-vehicle crash on the 210 Freeway in Pasadena as Jamie De La Paz, 60, of Fontana. The 6:30 p.m. crash was on the westbound 210 Freeway, east of Wilson Avenue, and involved a collision between a big rig hauling powdered concrete and a 2016 GMC Sierra, said California Highway Patrol Officer Miguel Luevano. The Sierra driver was able to regain control, but the big rig veered to the right, jackknifed, went up the concrete embankment, hit a tree and overturned. The big rig driver died, while the man driving the Sierra, a 54-year-old Temecula resident, wasn’t injured.
Semi driver killed in fiery crash on I-84 near The Dalles
WASCO COUNTY, OR (KPTV) – A semi driver died as a result of injuries sustained in a fiery crash on Interstate 84, according to Oregon State Police. The crash happened on I-84 near milepost 74 at around 1:50 a.m. OSP said an investigation revealed a commercial truck was eastbound in the slow lane when it drifted off the roadway, hit a rock embankment and caught fire. The driver died as a result of injuries, according to OSP. The driver was identified by police as 50-year-old Leo Stratton of Portland.
‘Why were police chasing a car in a neighborhood?’ boss asks after employee killed
MIAMI TOWNSHIP, OH (FOX19) – A Lebanon, Ohio woman died in a Miami Township police chase Tuesday night. According to Irongate Realtors, Mary Taulbee was a realtor with the company in the Dayton Area. Described as kind-hearted and hard-working, the 57-year-old’s passion and professionalism, her friends said, did not go unnoticed. Steven Brown, president of Irongate Realtors, said that Taulbee was meeting a client in a neighborhood Tuesday when, per investigators, another driver hit Taulbee’s vehicle. Police said that wreck sent Taulbee’s car into the path of a Moraine police cruiser. Then those two vehicles collided. “Every day our agents go out and you think you are safe,” Brown said. “Why was a police agency chasing a car in a neighborhood? Those are the questions we want answered.” The officer behind the wheel, police said, was chasing an 18-year-old woman in a stolen jeep. Taulbee was taken to the hospital following the crash, where she died.
University of Northern Iowa releases name of employee who died in steam leak incident
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — Kevin Bley, 61, died from injuries received after an incident in the steam distribution system tunnel. Emergency crews responded to a steam leak in a University of Northern Iowa building, which had been closed for maintenance and repair from a prior steam leak earlier this month. According to University Relations Aaron Clingingsmith, the leak was reported around 8:39 Monday morning in Rialto Dining Hall. The Steam Distribution System was being brought back online from the previous leak when today’s steam leak took place. Bley died due to his injuries while working on that system. Bley had been with the UNI family for more than 10 years as a steamfitter.
Click here to visit the Confined Space blog.
Click here to donate to the Confined Space blog.
