The Weekly Toll
Worker dies when found gun dischargesNEW YORK (AP) _ A construction worker died after a shotgun he found in a trash container at a work site accidentally discharged, striking him in the neck, police said.
Orano Stepcic, 52, found the gun in a case he pulled from a container near where he was working on Woodward Avenue in the Ridgewood section of Queens on Friday morning, police said. More here.
Farm worker dies after gate accident
TOWN OF IRVING, Wis. — A 19-year-old farm worker died after getting caught in a mechanical cattle gate Friday morning, according to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.
Megan L. Queitzsch of Melrose was rushed to Black River Memorial Hospital from a farm on Sunnyvale Road in the town of Irving after the accident was reported about 9:15 a.m. She wasprono unced dead at the hospital, according to a sheriff's press release.
Man working on light switch is electrocuted
A 19-year-old worker, Duane R. Smith, was electrocuted Wednesday while trying to wire a light switch at a Columbia home, Richland County Coroner Gary Watts said.
Explosion claims fairgrounds worker
An adult male employee of the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds was killed Wednesday in an explosion at the fairgrounds, an investigator with the Greene County Medical Examiner's Office said.
Officials identified the victim as Brad Murphy, 34, of Springfield. No other injuries were reported. More here.
Late-night blast at Houston company under investigation
SAN LEON — One worker was killed and four others were hospitalized early Wednesday after a late-night explosion at an offshore gas-drilling rig in upper Galveston Bay.
Houston-based Transocean Inc. said 21 workers were rescued from its gas-drilling barge after the blast was reported about 11 p.m. Tuesday.
Safe door collapses, killing Livermore man
A 31-year-old Livermore man was killed Tuesday at a construction site near the International Marketplace when the door of a walk-in safe he was tearing down collapsed on him.
The coroner's office identified him as Sathaniel Malachai Menzie. He worked for Soil Enterprises Inc. of Byron. More here.
PUC employee killed by trash compactor
A Pacific Union College employee was killed Monday when he apparently was crushed to death in a trash compactor.
Nelson Rivera, 39, was found dead by co-workers at the college's landfill at 12:45 p.m., sheriff's Capt. Mike Loughran said.
More here and here.
Investigation begins into building collapse that killed one worker
Officials have begun investigating the partial collapse of a downtown building that killed a construction worker.
Adam Petruska, 20, of Kent County was crushed under tons of rubble Wednesday morning. He was working inside the 70-year-old Welsh Civic Auditorium which is scheduled for demolition. More here.
Memphis Firefighters Died as Heroes
MEMPHIS -- Two firefighters died braving fire and smoke in a three-alarm fire at a Frayser business, believing they were going in to save trapped civilians, fire officials said Monday.
However, reports that people were inside the burning Family Dollar store at 3732 Watkins proved untrue.
As both experienced firefighters searched for victims Sunday night, a portion of the roof collapsed, trapping them.
Lt. Trent Kirk, an 11-year Fire Department veteran, died inside the store after urging other firefighters to retreat.
It was several hours after the collapse that a rescue team knocked a hole in the north wall of the building to pull him out.
Firefighter Charles Zachary, a 19-year veteran, was pulled from the blaze after 15 minutes, Fire Director Chester Anderson said. He died of his injuries early Monday.
