Excuse the length of this depressing exercise, but I’ve been away for a couple of weeks and unlike me, workplace death takes no vacation. The usual falls, machinery deaths, vehicle accidents. Also several sanitation workers lost their lives over the past several week, as well as retail workers shot on the job. From Alabama to Wisconsin. From Idaho to Mississippi. From Massachusetts to California and on to Guam. The toll of workplace death goes on.
College Station police: Man, 24, dies in workplace accident
College Station, TX — A 24-year-old man died Saturday morning in a workplace accident, authorities said. According to College Station police, authorities were dispatched to the 1300 block of Earl Rudder Freeway around 8:15 a.m. on the report of an accident. First responders arrived and administered life-saving measures, and the injured person, identified as Guillermo Lopez, was taken to the hospital. He later died of his injuries.
Brighton man killed in accident involving large tilling machine identified
BOULDER, Colo. — Authorities have released the name of a Colorado man who was killed in an accident involving a large tilling machine. The Boulder Daily Camera reports 65-year-old Ray Garner, of Brighton, was in a field when his clothing became entangled in an auger Monday afternoon. He died at the scene. The Erie Police Department, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the Weld County coroner’s office are investigating.
Construction worker killed after car crash
Gainesville, FL — A construction worker was killed after he was hit by a car on West Newberry Road early Friday morning, Gainesville Police said. A car driving east struck 45-year-old Yamil Hernandez as he was working in a construction zone on the side of road at about 12:50 a.m., said GPD spokesperson Lt. Jorge Campos during a press conference. It is unknown which construction company Hernandez worked for.
Man Killed In Farm Accident
Van Buren County, MI — The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a farm death in Hartford on Friday. It tells us deputies were sent to Red Arrow Dairy on County Road 362 around 6:30 a.m. when a 35-year-old male worker was found unresponsive. The Van Buren County Sheriff’s office says the man was 35-year-old John Garth Cummings of Middleville. Emergency life saving procedures were conducted by employees of the dairy and first responders, and the man was taken to Watervliet Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Deputies learned the worker, who was from Middleville, was subcontracted for a company out of Grand Rapids and was on site to conduct testing. He was found buried in corn silage, which is fermented high moisture food fed to tjhe cattle. Police believe the victim was near the roughly 30 foot-high corn silage when some of it broke away and fell on to him. Officials from the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration were contacted and are investigating. The victim’s name has not been released.
Employee dies at West Fraser’s Florida mill
Maxville, Fl — West Fraser has confirmed an employee died at its Maxville, Florida site this morning (Nov. 30). Tara Knight, who works in West Fraser’s communications department, said details of the incident are still unknown. “We are working with authorities on site to determine what happened. Our thoughts are with the employee’s family and our employees at this time,” she said via email. Deputies said a stack of wood materials fell on a worker, killing him.
Latest CSX-related fatality, recent derailments highlight safety concerns
Estill, SC — John Youmans, a 10-year CSX employee and father of three, was struck and killed by a train while welding on CSX track in Estill, South Carolina on Friday at 10:30 a.m. “Safety is CSX’s highest priority and our goal is for every employee to return home safely to his or her family at the end of every day,” CSX said in a statement. “Losing a fellow railroader is difficult for everyone at CSX, and we will fully investigate this incident to understand what happened and how it could have been prevented.” The fatality comes in the same month as two derailments that occurred on back-to-back weekends in central Georgia; no injuries or spills were reported in either derailment. The events highlight safety problems that have plagued an otherwise robust operational turnaround at the Jacksonville-based railroad.
Man killed when nitrous oxide tank explodes in Sanford
SANFORD, N.C. — Authorities are investigating a fatal building explosion Thursday night in Lee County. The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to an industrial accident at Sadler’s Automotive at 6342 Lemon Spring Road just after 7:30 p.m. Witnesses told deputies that a man was preparing to fill a nitrous oxide tank when it exploded. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Video from the scene showed the explosion caused the ceiling of the building to cave in and the windows had been blown out.
Patient, EMT dead in ambulance crash on I-40E in Nashville
NASHVILLE, TN — Two people are dead after a crash on I-40 east near Charlotte Pike on Friday night involving a West Tennessee ambulance, according to Metro Police. Metro Police said the private ambulance, affiliated with West Tennessee Health Care and Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, was traveling east on I-40 near Charlotte Avenue when the driver lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a curve and crashed into a rock wall. The patient in the ambulance, 36-year-old Nyema Jackson of Jackson, Tenn., and the medic in the rear of the ambulance, 36-year-old Zachary Pruitt of Humbolt, Tenn., were ejected from the vehicle. They were transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in critical condition where they later died.
Construction worker killed near movie studio
Fayetteville, GA — A construction worker is dead after he was killed while working across the street from the Pinewood Atlanta movie studio on Thursday. A coworker discovered the man’s body around 6 p.m. at the Pinewood Forest development. The worker says he found the body under a front loader after noticing the machine’s reverse lights were on. Investigators believe the man may have fallen and somehow ended up under the machine. The victim hasn’t been identified but police tell CBS46 News he is a Hispanic male in his 30’s.
Employee dies in Ozinga industrial accident in Lemont
Lemont, IL — An employee was killed Monday afternoon in an industrial accident at an Ozinga concrete plant in southwest suburban Lemont. The accident happened at 1:44 p.m. Monday at 11400 Old Lemont Road, near the Chicago Shipping and Sanitary Canal, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. The man, identified as 30-year-old Michael James McClaren of Naperville, was pronounced dead at 2:15 p.m., the medical examiner’s office said. An autopsy Tuesday found McClaren died from multiple injuries from an industrial accident. The person’s identity was being withheld pending notification of family. A statement from Ozinga referred to the person as an employee of the company.
64-year-old Mercersburg man killed in industrial accident at Chambersburg warehouse
FRANKLIN COUNTY, PA — A 64-year-old Mercersburg man died early Thursday morning in an industrial accident at a Franklin County warehouse. The accident occurred at about 2:50 a.m. at Franklin Storage LP on the 900 block of Kriner Road in Chambersburg. Fire and emergency officials dispatched to the scene discovered the victim lying under a 1,800-pound stack of plywood. The victim, identified as Glenn A. Shelly, was dead at the scene.
Solid waste employee hit and killed by car
COLUMBIA CO., Fla. (WCTV) —A solid waste employee was killed Tuesday morning when he was struck by a vehicle as he was standing behind his truck. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash happened around 10:00 a.m. on County Road 250 just south of NW Kimble Glen in Columbia County. The crash report states that 38-year-old Kent Sexton was traveling southeast on County Road 250, where a solid waste truck was stopped in the southbound lane. Troopers say Sexton did not notice the stopped truck or the employee standing behind it and crashed into the back of the vehicle. The employee, 34-year-old Julian Udell, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Gunman kills 1 at municipal building, is arrested
Paradise Township, PA — A man who may have been having trouble getting permits for work on his property shot and killed a township employee in a government building Tuesday, then paced the hallway with his head in his hands until police arrived to take him into custody, authorities said. The gunman walked inside the Paradise Township municipal building about 8:20 a.m., asked for the victim by name, then shot him in the mouth in his office, according to court documents. A co-worker administered CPR until paramedics showed up, but Michael Tripus, 65, of Stroudsburg, was declared dead at the scene.
Truck Driver Killed in Fiery Crash Near Terrell
Kaufman County, TX — The driver of an 18-wheeler was killed Tuesday night in a fiery crash that shut down Interstate 20 in Kaufman County, officials say. According to a Texas Department of Public Safety spokesman, it happened when an 18-wheeler struck the back of another big rig that was stopped in traffic behind another crash near mile marker 505. The driver of the trailing truck was killed. The driver of the 18-wheeler that was not injured, though the truck was consumed in flames.
Truck driver killed in crash with tractor on Alabama 20
Hillsboro, AL — A man died in a crash involving a truck and tractor in north Alabama on Tuesday evening. The wreck happened three miles west of Hillsboro on Alabama 20 in Lawrence County, according to AL.com news partner WHNT News-19. James Randolph Church, a 49-year-old from Tuscumbia, died at the scene of the 5:15 p.m. crash, state troopers told WHNT. Church was driving a truck that hit the tractor.
U.S. marshal fatally shot while serving arrest warrant
TUCSON, Ariz. — A deputy U.S. marshal serving a fugitive arrest warrant has been shot and killed outside a Tucson house. The U.S. Marshals Service in Washington said Friday that Chase White, 41, sustained gunshot wounds while serving the warrant Thursday night. White died later at a hospital. The suspect was arrested after an hour-long standoff at the home. Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus said the Marshals Service was serving a warrant for Ryan Schlesinger, 26, at about 5:30 p.m. Thursday on the city’s north side when the suspect fired at agents. Marshals returned fire, but the suspect was not wounded. White had been with the U.S. Marshals Service since 2015 and was an Air Force reservist preparing for a deployment. He was married and had children. David J. Anderson, Acting Deputy Director of the U.S. Marshals Service, called White a “hero” who had been performing a dangerous job. “Chase was devoted to making his community and this nation safer. His sacrifice will not be forgotten,” Anderson said.
Man’s death at construction site prompts federal investigation
Mangilao, Guam — A federal investigation is underway after a man is killed in an apparent construction site accident. A possible freak accident in Mangilao – the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is now investigating after a construction worker is killed. Guam fire confirming the victim was struck by a backhoe bucket while spotting for the operator who was digging a hole. It happened around 4:30 pm on Sunday on Palomares street just off the back road to Andersen Air Force Base.
Sanitation worker dies in Martin County
LOVELY, Ky. – Kentucky State Police (KSP) Pikeville Post 09 has opened a death investigation involving a solid waste employee in Martin County. Martin County Deputy Coroner James Mollett pronounced David Robinson, 45, of Lovely, Kentucky, deceased at the scene of the accident. The KSP received a call from the Martin County Sheriff’s office just before 9 a.m. Thursday requesting a trooper respond to Ky. 292 at Lovely to investigate the death of a solid waste worker who was thought to have fallen off the back of a garbage truck. The KSP trooper determined the victim had possibly fallen from the vehicle onto the roadway and died from the injuries he received.
Construction worker injured in Thief River Falls has died
THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. — Authorities say a man hurt while working on a construction project in Thief River Falls has died of his injuries. KVRR reports McShane Construction Company says the man was working for the steel erector on an expansion at Digi-Key when he was injured in an accident Nov. 6. The company says the worker died 9 days later. No other details were provided.
Beaumont man killed after car hits garbage truck ID’d
Orange, TX — A 28-year-old sanitation worker, Derrick Cane, died after an Orange teen struck a garbage truck Monday evening, according to information from the Orange Police Department. At approximately 4:27 p.m. officers responded to a call in reference to a major crash in the 3300 block of MLK. Initial reports indicate a 2014 Hyundai Sonata driven by an 18-year-old from Orange was travelling southbound when she struck a sanitation truck that was stopped to pick up garbage bins, OPD said. Cane had just turned 28 just 40 days prior to his death.
Worker crushed to death by metal wall on site
Brooklyn, NY — Over Paredes, a 44-year-old construction worker, was crushed to death by falling debris on a construction site in Brooklyn, New York last Wednesday, according to published reports. Paredes was doing rooftop work with two of his sons when he was pinned beneath a metal wall that had fallen on him. Paredes’ son reportedly pulled him from under the wall, claiming it had fallen because of the high winds. According to him, no one should have been working on the roof that day. “On the day of the incident, the crane operators had reportedly refused to use the crane because of high winds,” Eric Adams, Brooklyn borough president, told PIX 11. “We want to make sure that this wasn’t a way of circumventing a decision by the crane operators.”
Herndon man dies after construction accident
Herndon, VA — A construction worker from Herndon died Nov. 21 from injuries sustained during a fall in the Ashburn area, according to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s office officials on Nov. 28 said the victim was 49-year-old Jose Escalante. Around 10:20 a.m. the day before Thanksgiving, deputies responded to the 22000 block of Dolomite Hills Drive, where authorities say Escalante fell approximately 10-30 feet from a ladder while working construction on a residence. He succumbed to injuries after being taken to a local hospital. An LCSO spokesman said all indications are the death was an accident.
Worker in Arkansas electrocuted at Pine Bluff Plant
Pine Bluff, Ark. — Authorities say a worker in Pine Bluff, Ark. has died after he was electrocuted at a cottonseed oil plant. Pine Bluff police say the employee was changing switches in an electrical cage at Planters Cotton Oil Mill on Monday when he was electrocuted. The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office identified the worker as 62-year-old Samson Staton.
Vehicle strikes, kills construction worker on Alcott Road
Concord, MA — Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Concord Chief of Police Joseph O’Connor have confirmed a worker died after being struck by a commercial vehicle Nov. 26 on the corner of Alcott and Independence roads. Concord Police Lt. Christopher Troiano said an officer working on the construction detail alerted Concord’s police and fire departments at 12:22 p.m. after Wayne Moody, a 75-year-old construction worker from Rutland, was hit by a vehicle associated with the work to repave Alcott Road. According to a press release from Ryan’s office, their investigation suggested that Moody had been working on the side of the road when the utility pickup truck backed up, running him over.
Stanislaus County sheriff’s deputy killed in crash in Riverbank
Riverbank, CA — A Stanislaus County sheriff’s deputy died in a single-vehicle crash in Riverbank Sunday night. According to a press release issued early Monday by the sheriff’s department, deputy Antonio “Tony” Hinostroza, 45, died after his patrol car hit a power pole at Terminal Avenue and Claribel Road just before 10 p.m. Hinostroza, who was assigned to the department’s main office, was responding to help deputies in Riverbank who were involved in a chase.
Utah officer killed, fleeing suspect also dead
SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah (AP) — A 31-year-old police officer in a Salt Lake City suburb was killed when he was intentionally struck by a car carrying fleeing burglary suspects, police said. The driver of the car was shot and killed by police and an accomplice was arrested. South Salt Lake Officer David Romrell died Saturday night at a hospital, Police Chief Jack Carruth said. The Marine Corps veteran is survived by his wife and 4-month-old child. Carruth said Romrell and another officer responded to a burglary call at a business and came across two males trying to flee in a car. The officers got out of their patrol vehicles and ordered the suspects to stop. Instead, the driver accelerated and struck Romrell.
On-duty city police officer killed in crash
WINCHESTER, VA — A city police officer was killed Saturday night in a single-vehicle crash while responding to a call, according to a city news release. Officer Hunter Edwards, 30, of Frederick County, died as a result of the crash, which occurred about 10:50 p.m. on East Jubal Early Drive, less than a mile west of Pleasant Valley Road, the release stated. He was responding to a report of a fight just a few blocks away on South Loudoun Street. Corinne N. Geller, public relations director for the Virginia State Police, which is investigating the crash, said Edwards was driving west on East Jubal Early Drive in a 2006 Ford Crown Victoria police cruiser when the vehicle spun off the right side of the road and struck a tree and guardrail.
Man Killed in bus crash
Port Orchard, WA — A 75 year old man, James Kingston, was driving a Ford Econoline Bus for Bremerton Kitsap Airporter, when it left the roadway to the right and struck a tree. The vehicle caught fire and became fully engulfed. (Source: Washington Department of Labor and Industries)
Worker dies after fall from condo roof at Lake of the Ozarks
Camdenton, MO — A worker fell off a condominium roof Friday morning and apparently died of injuries sustained from the impact. An adult male, a worker for a roofing contractor working on the building, was found to have fallen from the three-story Horizons Condominium building located off of Bear Paw Road north of Camdenton. According to further information from a press release from the MCFPD, the victim landed in a rocky area and suffered significant injuries. Bystanders attempted life-saving measures which were continued by emergency service personnel. Camden County Ambulance also responded to the scene.The victim was declared dead at the scene from the injuries sustained from the fall. His identity has not been released at this time. Frandsen estimated the man fell 45 feet due to the additional height from the basement to the roof on the side of the building where it occurred.
Authorities investigate death at Boise Cascade plywood plant in Louisiana
FLORIEN, La. – Boise Cascade, one of the largest producers of engineered wood and plywood in North America, is working with local authorities to investigate a fatal accident that occurred at the company’s plywood manufacturing operation in Florien, Louisiana. At approximately 3:20 a.m. on November 18th, an employee was performing maintenance repair on a piece of equipment. The details surrounding how the accident occurred is under investigation. Emergency responders were called to the scene, but the employee did not survive. His name is being withheld at this time out of respect for the family.
Iowa Construction Worker Dies at Turtle Creek Wind Farm
St. Ansgar, Iowa — An Iowa construction worker was killed in what authorities are calling an “industrial accident” in St. Ansgar, Iowa over the weekend. The Mitchell County Sheriff’s Office says the man was killed while loading heavy equipment but says it is not a criminal matter and that the incident is now being investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. White Construction Inc., which is working on the Turtle Creek Wind Farm Project in St. Ansgar, says the victim was one of its employees named Joseph Hill. The president of White Construction Inc., David Berthelsen, says Hill was based out of Iowa and in his mid 40’s.
Victim shot at West Nyack auto shop Saturday dies, identified as Youbens Joseph
West Nyack, NY — A 37-year-old man shot during a dispute with a customer at a West Nyack used car outlet Saturday afternoon died overnight and police are trying to locate his killer, authorities say. The victim was identified as Youbens Joseph of Middletown in Orange County. Joseph was shot three times in the torso and suffered “major internal damage,” according to the Clarkstown Police Department. The shooting appeared to result from a disagreement with a customer. Joseph is the registered owner of the business, according to state records.
Mississippi Police officer killed in crash
Philadelphia, MS — A Philadelphia, Mississippi police officer died in a crash while responding to a call early Saturday morning. Officer Leann Simpson died as a result of a single-vehicle crash around 2 a.m. on West Beacon Street, according to The Meridian Star. Philadelphia Police Chief Grant Myers told the newspaper that deputies were conducting a traffic stop on Highway 16. When dispatchers could not make contact with the deputies, they requested police to check on them. The 23-year-old officer, who had been the job for 15 months, was responding to that call when she died in the crash.
Sheriff’s office IDs delivery driver killed by carbon dioxide in Spring Lake Park
Spring Lake Park, MN — Authorities have identified the delivery driver killed by carbon dioxide in Spring Lake Park Wednesday. Fifty-eight-year-old Amos Bordia Hagbe of Brooklyn Park was found dead at a fast food restaurant on Highway 65 Wednesday morning, according to the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office. Police said an initial investigation revealed the driver – now identified as Hagbe – was delivering liquid carbon dioxide when a mechanical failure occurred. While attempting to fix the failure, he was overcome by the liquid carbon dioxide. He was found dead in the cargo area of the truck.
HVAC worker dies in elevator shaft fall
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Travis Collins, a 38-year-old employee of Air Control Heating & Air Conditioning in Lexington, Kentucky, was found dead on a job site in downtown Lexington after a fall. Collins apparently fell around 15 feet down an elevator shaft. He had been working on a rooftop installation, according to multiple media reports. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has taken the helm of an investigation since it was a workplace fatality. Air Control has established a fundraising page for his family at www.gofundme.com/travis-collins-memorial-fund. The page reports that Collins is survived by his wife and five boys ranging from 7 months to 8 years old.
Truck driver killed in I-75 crash identified
ACWORTH, GA — The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office has released the identity of the tractor trailer driver who died early Tuesday in a single-vehicle crash on I-75 near Acworth. Robert Kevin Deal, 41, of Statesboro was behind the wheel of the steel-hauling vehicle around 7:10 a.m. Nov. 20 when the 18-wheeler left the road just north of the Ga. 92 exit ramp. The truck traveled about 600 feet in the grass before colliding with and coming to rest under the Highway 92 bridge, said Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jay Baker. Deal was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
Waste Pro worker killed after recycling truck overturns
Palm Coast, FL — Waste Pro employee Demont’e Harris, 21 and a resident of Palm Coast, died the morning of Nov. 21 when the recycling truck he was riding in overturned onto its passenger side in the Woodlands, pinning him beneath the vehicle. Neighbors rushed to the scene to try to help him, but could not. The employee who was driving the Mack LEU600 truck was helped out of the cab by neighbors and was not injured. Waste Pro spokesman Ron Pecora said Harris was working as a helper, emptying recycling bins into the truck. He was riding inside the cab when the truck overturned.
These are the 3 victims in Chicago’s Mercy Hospital shooting
CHICAGO, IL — Chicago police say a domestic dispute led to a shooting that left three people and the gunman dead at Mercy Hospital on Chicago’s South Side, according to WGN. Police responded to the scene at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center at 2525 S. Michigan Ave. for reports of shots fired just before 3:30 p.m. Monday. A Chicago police officer, an emergency room doctor and a first-year pharmacy resident, were all killed in the attack. The Chicago Police Department have identified the slain officer as 28-year-old Samuel Jimenez. He joined the department in Feb. 2017 and just recently completed his probationary period to officially become a full-fledged officer. Jimenez was married and the father of three children. Jimenez was killed during a shootout with Lopez. Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says Jimenez didn’t typically work in the hospital area, but that the officer responded when he heard that shots were fired. He says it “speaks volumes about his character.” Tamara O’Neal, 38, an emergency room physician, was known as very charitable and deeply religious. She never worked Sundays because of her religious faith. O’Neal had broken off her engagement to the gunman, Juan Lopez, back in September. Lopez and O’Neal had been arguing in the hospital parking lot before he displayed a handgun and fatally shot her. Dayna Less, 25, a first year pharmacy resident, had recently graduated from Purdue University and started working at Mercy Hospital in July. Less was planning a wedding next year in Indiana. She also had plans to go home this week for Thanksgiving. Her family said she should not be remembered as a victim, but as a beautiful daughter who overcame adversity and dared to succeed in a tragic world.
Tow truck driver killed in hit-and-run crash
Kansas City, Mo — Kansas City police said Monday afternoon that they have the hit-and-run vehicle, as well as a “person of interest,” in custody. Police were looking for the driver of a black sedan that struck and killed a tow truck driver working a roadside rescue along Interstate 35 in Kansas City, North, late Sunday. The tow truck driver was identified as John “Johnny” Stewart, according to the Facebook page for GT Tow Service of Smithville. Stewart, who was helping a stranded motorist, was hit while he was securing a silver Toyota on his truck. He was standing at the controls near the left side of his truck, according to a preliminary crash report from Kansas City police. Stewart was pronounced dead at the scene. The vehicle that struck him fled the scene without stopping.
Tow truck driver killed in hit-and-run while trying to help stranded motorist
Fort Worth, TX — A 51-year-old tow truck driver was hit and killed while trying to help a stranded motorist early Tuesday morning in Fort Worth. It happened at around 12:20 a.m. in the southbound lanes of Interstate 35W near Sycamore School Road. Police said Charles McGough had pulled over on the shoulder and was outside of his vehicle operating the controls on his wrecker when a passing semi struck his vehicle, killing him. McGough was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the semi did not stop; no arrests have been made.
Box-truck driver killed in crash on I-4 on-ramp in Osceola County, FHP says
Orlando, FL — The driver of a box truck was killed Wednesday morning during a traffic crash that occurred on the ramp from State Road 417 to westbound Interstate 4 in Osceola County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash happened at about 6:20 a.m. and closed the on-ramp, FHP spokeswoman Lt. Kim Montes said. The accident also involved another box truck and a semi-truck.
Odessa man dead after pipes from truck bed fly through cabin
ANDREWS COUNTY, TX (KWES) – Troy Gonzales, 32, of Odessa, is dead following an accident on State Highway 128, 17 miles east of Jal, New Mexico. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, Gonzales was towing a semi-trailer loaded with pipe behind a truck tractor headed west on SH 128 when he failed to make a curve. Gonzales attempted to come to an abrupt stop causing the pipes loaded on the trailer to shift, and pass through the cab of the truck.
Conrath man killed when front-end loader drops
Sheldon, WI — The Rusk County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a 911 call requesting emergency medical services at 12:21 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15, at Tractor Central in Sheldon. The caller said a person was pinned underneath a front-end loader on a tractor. The victim was David Nelson, 52, of Conrath. He leaves behind his wife of 21 years, Laura Dutter-Nelson, and children, Jon, a senior, and Emmalee, a freshman, at Flambeau High School. Rusk County Ambulance, Rusk County First Responders, Sheldon Fire Department and Rusk County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the business. Prior to first responders arriving, Tractor Central employees had removed Nelson from under a frontend loader attached to a farm tractor. He was transported to the Sheldon Air Ambulance loading zone, where they were met by Life Link III. Nelson died from his injuries prior to being transported by Life Link III.
18-year-old charged in fatal shooting of convenience store employee
HOUSTON, TX – An 18-year-old man was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a convenience store employee at a northwest Houston store. Jose L. Bonilla-Ortiz is charged with murder in the shooting death of Faruk Bhuiya, who was killed during a robbery on Nov. 10, according to the court documents. Police said they found the employee dead at the store located in the 1600 block of Witte Road. They believe the employee was shot during an attempted robbery.
22-year-old farm worker drowns in manure pit near Loudonville
LOUDONVILLE, OH — A dairy farm worker drowned Friday morning while moving manure into a holding pit north of Loudonville. A 22-year-old worker was operating a skid loader with a squeegee on the front, pushing cow manure from a barn to a holding pit, when he apparently lost control of the machine, according to Ashland County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Carl Richert. The man’s name was not released at the time of publication. The machine traveled too close to the edge of the holding tank and fell down into the pit, Richert said, adding that the cause of the accident remains unclear. The ground was not icy at the time, but it was wet and muddy, according to Richert. Richert said the pit was about 40 feet wide and approximately 12 feet deep. It contained about eight feet of manure and water product.
One killed, three injured in blast at US Ecology hazardous waste facility in Owyhee County
Grand View, ID — US Ecology confirmed late Saturday that a man was killed and at least three others were injured following an explosion at a US Ecology waste facility near the Owyhee County community of Grand View. The deceased was identified as Monte Green of Grand View. Following the blast inside a facility which, according to the company, “coverts hazardous inorganic wastes into non-hazardous, delisted residues,” emergency responders rushed to the facility off of Simco Road, south of Interstate 84. More than a dozen workers were inside the building at the time of the explosion, according to the company. In addition to Green, three other unidentified employees were injured. US Ecology said those injuries were not life-threatening.
Englewood construction worker dies in Berthoud accident
Englewood, CO – A 43-year-old man died Thursday after being hit by a truss that fell from a crane while working at a construction site in Berthoud, according to the Larimer County Coroner’s Office. Larimer County deputy coroner Debbie Reisdorff told the Reporter-Herald Friday afternoon that the victim was Walter Vasquez-Caballeros of Englewood. Reisdorff said Vasquez-Caballeros suffered multiple blunt-force injuries at the construction site at 151 S. Eighth St. and later succumbed to his injuries in the emergency room of McKee Medical Center in Loveland.
Construction worker killed in Mass Pike accident, highway closed
BECKET, MA – A construction worker was killed at a work site on the Massachusetts Turnpike Thursday afternoon. Massachusetts State Police are investigating the death of Brian M. Simard, 26. They did not give details about how the worker died. The accident happened at about 2:25 p.m. all westbound lanes of Interstate-90 were closed for several hours at the 17.2 mile marker near Westfield, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
Worker Killed in North Carolina industrial accident at MillerCoors Plant
Eden, NC — Authorities have identified a man who was killed in an industrial accident in North Carolina. The Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office said 44-year-old William A. Villatoro of Bayshore, New York, was part of a team contracted to remove metal from the vacant MillerCoors plant in Eden. A news release from the sheriff’s office said Villatoro was using a cutting saw Monday when it kicked back and hit him in his upper body
Worker dies after falling off platform at Chalco-area construction site
Chalco, NE — A 60-year-old Bellevue man died Wednesday after falling 20 to 30 feet at a construction site near Chalco. Jerome “Jerry” Charvat fell from a platform at the Andover Pointe apartments at 12860 Chandler Plaza. The accident at the site, near Interstate 80 and Giles Road, happened around 8:40 a.m., according to a release from the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office. Charvat was taken by helicopter in critical condition to Creighton University Medical Center-Bergan Mercy, where he died. Charvat was one of the owners of B&B Grill and Arcade in Bellevue.
Community gathers to pay respects to Greensboro officer killed in line of duty
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Hundreds of family, friends and law enforcement officers gathered to pay their respects to Greensboro Police Officer Jared Franks as he was laid to rest on Saturday. Franks was 24 years old when he died while responding to a call for a possible robbery last Saturday. Franks was trying to avoid hitting another patrol car and crashed his patrol car into the foundation of a home.
Carroll Twp. firefighter dies after crashing into pond
CARROLL TOWNSHIP, OH – A Carroll Township firefighter responding to a call Thursday died after his truck ran off the road and into a pond near Wall Street and Toussaint Club Road. According to an Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office report, divers attempted to rescue the firefighter, Dan Lucius, 33, and were able to pull the person from the submerged vehicle. Lucius was taken by ambulance to Magruder Hospital in Port Clinton where he was pronounced dead. Lucius was responding to an emergency call on Wall Street when he called 911 around 10 p.m. Thursday and said he had crashed his vehicle into the water. While rescue personnel were en route to the scene, contact with the caller was lost, the report said.
Firefighter dies after being hit by vehicle
California — The statewide wildfires that are raging across California have taken another tragic turn. A firefighter from Washington, who was in California to help battle the state’s Woolsey fire, died Thursday after he was struck by a vehicle. His cause of death is listed as chest trauma. The firefighter, whose name has not been released, was on loan from the the South Kitsap Fire Department. A spokesman said he had been on the job for more than 21 years.
Lynx bus driver dead, another injured after one bus crashes into another, police say
ORLANDO, Fla. – One Lynx bus rear-ended another, crushing and killing a driver standing between the two. The bus that was broken down didn’t have its hazards on, officials said. The crash happened not far from the bus yard on West Princeton Street, east of John Young Parkway. Union officials said this crash didn’t need to happen. The union president said that bus was supposed to be on hold and it has broken down on other drivers and needed a jump out in the field. Officials also said Lynx is in talks about issuing reflective vests to bus drivers. “The first bus just died out and there was no reflective,” said union president, Ismael Rivera. The driver of that bus, 59-year-old Prosper Nazaire, got out and went to the back of the vehicle near the engine compartment, according to Rivera.
Truck driver killed in I-59 head on collision of tractor trailers
Dade County, FL — Dade County Sheriff Ray Cross says one driver is dead and the other under arrest. The driver of the second truck heading south was killed. The driver of the northbound truck that crossed the median is being facing several charges.
Arrest made in deadly armed robbery at Vidalia shop
VIDALIA, Ga. — Toombs County sheriff’s deputies arrested a man in connection with a deadly robbery at a Vidalia store. Deputies arrested Tyron Burns, of Vidalia, Saturday morning. Vidalia police say Burns walked into the RJ Pope menswear store on East First Street around 1:15 p.m. Friday. What followed led to the death of Brooke Joiner, who worked at the store.
Widow of Dollar General employee killed at work says he would be alive if store security was better
NORTH ST. LOUIS, MO – The widow of a Dollar General employee who was murdered on the job says he would still be alive if the store had better security measure. On November 2, Jolanda Woods’ life changed because of what happened inside a Dollar General store near the intersection of Grand and Kossuth. A suspect entered the store and fatally shot her husband Robert. According to police, the shooting took place at the Dollar General at Grand and Kossuth, near Fairground Park, on November 2. The suspect entered the store with a firearm and began shooting, police said. Police said the victim, Robert Woods, 42, was found unconscious and not breathing. He was a clerk at the store. The neighborhood where the store is located has a high crime problem. Jolanda says because of that, she wishes the company would do more concerning security, adding that if the company had done so, then her husband would still be alive. “That’s not enough staff to secure your store with no security. You can’t expect them to watch the aisles, work the cash registers, watch the thieves and stop the thieves,” Yolanda said.
Hempstead sanitation worker dies after being injured on duty, officials say
Hempstead, NY — An “exemplary” Town of Hempstead worker standing on the back of a sanitation truck died from injuries to his chest and abdomen suffered when the vehicle backed up toward a parked truck on Wednesday, officials said. “It is with profound sadness we report that longtime Town of Hempstead Sanitation worker Jean Macdonald was killed in a tragic accident yesterday while working on his route in Wantagh,” Town Supervisor Laura Gillen said in a statement Thursday. Macdonald, 60, of Freeport, had worked for the town since 2006. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the supervisor and Nassau County police.
Friend speaks out after woman dies in workplace accident at FreightCar America
COLBERT COUNTY, Ala. – A young woman was killed in a workplace accident on Tuesday night at FreightCar America. Angel Foster was severely injured when she was caught in a piece of machinery. She was taken to the hospital but died soon after. Foster’s close friend Aleiah Bailey formerly worked as a welder at FreightCar, but left after she says she experienced too many near accidents. “My mom called me at like 2:30. My kid and I were in bed and she said, ‘Angel died.’ I was thinking, ‘no’,” Bailey said. The accident happened during the Tuesday night shift on the assembly line.
Cleveland police chief asks public for tips in search for man who shot city sanitation worker
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Cleveland police are asking the public for help finding the suspect accused of shooting a city sanitation worker to death Tuesday morning. A city waste collection employee killed Tuesdaywhile collecting trash on his route was a father of two, his grandmother said. Patricia Hawkins said her grandson, D’Shane Wilcox, 28, was shot to death while working the job he loved. Wilcox was hired as a garbage collector in May 2017, according to city records.
Truck driver killed after hitting tree in road on Hwy 56 in Laurens Co. ID’d
LAURENS Co., SC (WSPA) – The driver of a tractor trailer who died after a crash in Laurens Co. early Thursday morning has been identified. According to South Carolina Highway Patrol, the crash happened at 4:15 a.m. on Highway 56 near Young Road, about 1.86 miles east of Clinton. SCHP said the driver was traveling east when the vehicle hit a tree lying in the road. The driver continued on, ran off the road and then hit a guardrail. The victim died at the scene. The person was wearing a seat belt and was entrapped. The Laurens County Coroner’s Office identified the driver as William Lee Weger, 58, of Edgefiled, SC.
Third man dies after industrial accident at Moab potash mine
MOAB, UT — A man who was injured in an industrial accident at a mine near Moab has died. Arthur Secrest died of his injuries Tuesday, San Juan County Sheriff Rick Eldredge confirmed. The incident took place about 12:40 p.m. Saturday at the Intrepid Potash mine, southwest of Moab, officials said. Secrest and two other men were using a forklift to pull a pump out of a pond on the property in an attempt to move the pump into the back of a pickup truck, officials said Saturday. Part of the equipment they were using came in contact with a power line, and the three men were shocked, according to authorities. Russell Helquist and Matthew Johnston died at the scene of the accident. Secrest was left in critical condition and was taken to the University of Utah Burn Center in Salt Lake City.
Raymond man died Friday in workplace accident
RAYMOND, MN — A 31-year-old Raymond man died last week in a workplace accident. An obituary notice and a fundraising web page to benefit his family identifies Ryan Boonstra as the man who died Friday. The Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Office said an accident took place near the intersection of 60th Street and 150th Avenue Southwest in Holland Township where a construction company was installing tile in a field.The Sheriff’s Office in its initial news release reported the accident victim might have been pinned between heavy equipment. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police chief ‘saddened’ after officer killed armed guard — ‘a brave man who was doing his best’
Chicago, IL — Jemel Roberson had dreams of becoming a police officer. He was killed by one. The 26-year-old was working as an armed security guard Sunday when he tried to intervene during a shooting outside a Chicago-area bar. Officers arrived, and — officials later said — saw a man with a gun. A Midlothian police officer opened fire after ordering the man to drop the weapon. That man was Roberson. He was trying to subdue one of the suspects, investigators later said, when the officer shot him. Roberson later died at a hospital. Now — amid an uproar and questions about police training and operations — the city’s police chief said he is mourning the loss of Roberson.
