Worker killed in accident
NEW GARDEN, PA -- A 27-year-old worker died of a severe head injury suffered at Toughkenemon mushroom farm last week. Heriberto Ayala, of Oxford, had worked in the spawning process at Modern Mushroom. He was injured by a machine used in that process, according to sources.
The accident took place Aug. 12, said Leni Uddyback-Forston, a spokeswoman at U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration office in Philadelphia.
While fatal injuries among mushroom farm workers are rare, Youngdalh Lombardi said, injuries are not. She said she commonly sees employees suffer back injuries, less severe head injuries and neurological problems.
Man injured in UNCC explosion dies
CHARLOTTE, NC -- A 53-year-old University of North Carolina at Charlotte employee died Wednesday from injuries sustained in an on-campus explosion earlier this year.
In April, Edward Seamon and other facilities management workers were near a manhole between the Fretwell and Friday buildings when a flash fire forced the manhole into the air.
Logging accident victim named
A man killed in a logging accident northeast of Durango has been identified as Manuel Gonzales, 38, of Farmington, N.M.
La Plata County sheriff's investigator Pat Downs said a tree that had been cut by a co-worker fell on Gonzales and that the death was accidental.
The men worked for a logging company contracted by the U.S. Forest Service to clear trees near a road that were deemed a hazard. It took a helicopter medical team an hour to reach the site about 20 miles northeast of Durango after the accident, and Gonzales was dead when they arrived.
Expressway Accident Turns Into Fatality
OMAHA, Neb. -- The construction worker who fell while working on the West Dodge Expressway earlier this week has died.
Officials at The Nebraska Medical Center told KETV Newswatch 7 that 35-year-old David Vierkandt passed away early Saturday.
Vierkandt was smoothing concrete on the eastbound side of the Expressway Tuesday morning when he stepped back and fell nearly 35 feet.
The investigation into the accident is still ongoing.
Factory worker dies in attempt to fix drill press
NORTH BALTIMORE, OH — A Continental Structural Plastics employee was killed Wednesday when he became caught in a drill press on which he was working.
Police said Donald W. Lynch, 53, of Tiffin was pronounced dead at the plant by an air ambulance physician responding to the scene.
Chief Gerald Perry said Mr. Lynch apparently was trying to fix a machine that drills mounting holes in auto parts manufactured at the plant. He had worked 33 years for the company.
Police officer killed in Reading
READING, PA -- A plainclothes police officer responding to a report of a fight near City Hall was shot in the chest and died yesterday, officials said. Patrolman Scott A. Wertz and another officer were chasing suspect Cletus C. Rivera when Mr. Rivera fired two shots, at least one of which struck Officer Wertz, Mayor Tom McMahon said. Officer Wertz, 40, was not believed to have been wearing a bulletproof vest. He was shot just after 2 a.m. outside a convenience store. The other officer tackled Mr. Rivera and took him into custody, and authorities said they were preparing to file murder charges against him. As he was led into court yesterday, Mr. Rivera told reporters that he was innocent.
Car barrels past cones, kills highway worker
A Missouri Department of Transportation worker was killed Tuesday when a driver drove through emergency cones and struck him at the scene of a vehicle fire on Interstate 55.
Authorities identified the victim as Kenneth G. Hoierman, 38, of Affton. He was a worker with MoDOT's Motorist Assist and Emergency Response Program.
Police said Hoierman was standing between two MoDOT trucks that had parked on the shoulder and in the slow lane of southbound I-55 to block traffic near Weber.
Pennsylvania Firefighter Dies at Fire
McClure, PA - Flags in Mifflin and Snyder counties in Pennsylvania are flying at half-mast today in honor of a volunteer firefighter who died in the line of duty Saturday. Denny Hayes, 59, a member of McClure Volunteer Fire Co., was about to start operating the pump panel on the engine when he collapsed. He was treated by paramedics on the scene and rushed to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Man found dead in auto dealership elevator shaft
Bloomfield, PA - A 60-year-old Bloomfield man was found dead Saturday morning in an elevator shaft at Don Allen Automotive Group along Baum Boulevard. The victim is William Napoleon, according to the Allegheny County Medical Examiner's Office. He is a custodian for the car dealership in Bloomfield. "The automobile elevator got stock between floors," said city homicide detective George Trosky. "It appears he was trying to get out." Police discovered the body after employees had found a service door open and called police.
Worker Dies After Mistakenly Drinking Poisonous Chemical
RIFLE, Colo. -- A Rifle metalworker has died after drinking what he thought was an energy drink. It was a highly toxic liquid. The death of 53-year-old Frank Gabossi occurred Aug. 6, two days after drinking the liquid at an Old Snowmass work site, is being investigated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Ron Ryan, investigator for the Pitkin sheriff, said Gabossi was working on a metal staircase when he picked up a Gatorade bottle and drank it. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the job-site safety practices of Pitkin Iron, the Glenwood Springs company where Frank Gabossi worked.
Kenosha man killed in wood chipper mishap
PLEASANT PRAIRIE, WIS. — Federal health and safety officials are probing the death of a Kenosha tree service owner who was pulled through a wood chipper in an apparent accident. Dead is Jeremiah Sanders, 30, who owned J's Quality Tree Service. He was killed shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday while doing work on property in the 8900 block of 26th Avenue, police said. Police Chief Brian Wagner said Wednesday that according to witnesses Sanders "was using his foot to move a piece of wood that had gotten jammed in the chipper when his foot became entangled in the intake." He said Sanders "was pulled into and through the chipper." Co-workers attempted to stop the chipper, but were unsuccessful, the police chief said. Foul play is not suspected, said.
Worker killed in fall was not wearing safety harness
HARRISBURG, PA -- A construction worker who fell from a Pennsylvania Turnpike bridge being built over the Susquehanna River was not wearing a safety harness, the Dauphin County coroner said. Workers on the project told a deputy coroner that Raymond Thomas Miller, 44, of Kulpmont, had been in a part of the construction site where harnesses were not required, Coroner Graham Hetrick said Wednesday. Bob Fink, area director of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Harrisburg office, declined to comment on the investigation but said in general, workers must use safety harnesses and lanyards in areas where they could fall six or more feet. Miller died when he slipped through a space between planks on the partially completed bridge and fell 70 feet to a gravel road below on Calver Island, Hetrick said.
Construction accident victim identified
Carson City, NV - The name of a Carson City man killed in a construction accident in Kingsbury was released Wednesday. Douglas County Sheriff's Deputy Greg Hubbard said Manuel Chavez-Barragan, 41, was pronounced dead at the scene following a 25-foot fall onto rocks from a roof. Hubbard said Chavez-Barragan was working for AAA Roofing when he was on top of a North Bowl Lane home off Kingsbury Grade, and material began to slide. Barragan apparently tried to avoid the material and fell to his death, Hubbard said. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration was called in to investigate, according to Sgt. Tom Mezzetta said.
Widow wants answers
Baltimore, MD - Port worker's 'suspicious death' still unexplained, 6 weeks later More than six weeks after a Maryland Port Administration maintenance supervisor died of massive head injuries suffered at work, police and port officials have yet to settle on an explanation for a fatal incident that was not promptly reported to law enforcement officers and paramedics. Robert Benway, 45, was rushed to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in a truck by co-workers June 26 with injuries they said he suffered in a fall from a ladder at the all-but-deserted Clinton Street Marine Terminal. He died July 1 without regaining consciousness.
Carwash supplier, employee found murdered
STEDMAN, NC — Mark Robinson, who owned a carwash supply company and an employee were found dead in the company's warehouse and police are investigating the case as a double murder, The Fayetteville Observer reports. While investigators from the Cumberland County Sheriff's department have said Robinson, 49, and Tammy Rosario, 29, were murdered, they have revealed few other details, the newspaper said in an Aug. 17 story. The two victims were discovered on the morning of Aug. 15 when other employees showed up for work at Car Wash Service Express warehouse where Robinson also lived, the newspaper reported. The company also has a warehouse in Chester, S.C. The newspaper said investigators are not releasing details for fear it would compromise the investigation.
Hunt County Man Dies In Accident At Landfill
FORT WORTH, Texas -- A city employee in the Hunt County city of Greenville was killed in an accident at a landfill Wednesday morning. Wastewater operator David Gann's dump truck got stuck at the Malloy Landfill. After his truck was pulled free, Gann was pinned between the truck and bulldozer while unhooking a tow chain. Gann, 34, was pronounced dead at the scene. He was a Greenville employee since 1998 and is survived by his wife and one daughter.
2 who died in manhole incident identified
Owings Mill, MD - The two construction workers who died after losing consciousness in a sewer manhole Wednesday evening at Villa Julie College's Owings Mills campus were identified yesterday by Baltimore County police, while state occupational safety officials tried to determine what caused their deaths. Cesar Salazar, 22, of the 300 block of Middle Grove Court in Westminster went into the manhole first, apparently to retrieve a tool, and lost consciousness, according to state and local authorities. A second worker, Craig Michael Gouker, 47, of the 1000 block of Old Westminster Road in Hanover, Pa., went in the 15-foot hole to attempt to rescue Salazar but also lost consciousness, officials said.
Worker dies while repairing machinery
CHANNELVIEW, TX - Authorities are investigating the death of a contract worker who was fatally injured Saturday night at Lyondell's Equistar chemical plant. Kenny Ruthart, 33, was working near heat exchanger machinery used in the chemical reaction process when the accident occurred. Details on how the accident occurred weren't immediately available. "He was performing maintenance activities at one of our units that had been temporarily taken out of service," Lyondell spokesman Aaron Woods said in a story in Sunday's online edition of the Houston Chronicle.
Harlem Deli Worker Dies After Struggle Over a Box of Cereal
New York, NY - A 56-year-old worker at a deli in Harlem died, apparently of a heart attack, after struggling with a shoplifter who tried to steal a box of cereal from the store Saturday night, the police said. The victim, Mohammed Mused, confronted the shoplifter about 10 p.m., the police said yesterday, and the would-be thief fled empty-handed. Moments later, Mr. Mused collapsed on the floor of the cramped store on Lenox Avenue. The police said there had been a physical altercation but did not elaborate.
Day care center on alert after worker dies from meningitis
FARGO, N.D. — More than 100 children at a day care center here are being treated as a precaution after one of its workers died from a form of meningitis. Preliminary tests show the woman died Wednesday of meningococcal meningitis, which is not highly contagious and is rarely fatal, said Fargo Cass Public Health Officer John Baird. ``We're just making this announcement so others are aware of her death and can be protected if needed,'' Baird said. The Forum identified the woman as Erin Mae Bye, 25, whose parents live near Devils Lake. The Gilbertson-Gloger Funeral Home of Devils Lake said a memorial service is scheduled at 2 p.m. Saturday at the home of her parents, Bob and Joyce Bye, in rural Devils Lake.
Killers of employee at mini-mart at large
San Jose, CA - A mini-mart employee was shot and killed in San Jose late Sunday, and the shooters were still at large Monday. Police were called to the Hello Hollywood Enterprises market in a small strip mall in the 1000 block of Tully Road near the intersection of McLaughlin Avenue about 11:50 p.m., police Sgt. Nick Muyo said. The employee, a man who is believed to be between 40 and 50 years old, was pronounced dead at the scene, Muyo said. His name had not been released as of Monday.
Work Conditions May Have Contributed To Fatal Fall
CHICAGO, IL - 48-Year-Old Man Who Plunged To His Death May Have Been Working Without Fall Protection. Unsafe work conditions may have contributed to the death of a 48-year-old Elmwood Park man who fatally fell from a porch he was building Monday on the Northwest Side. Antoni Lojko of 2633 74th Court in Elmwood Park was pronounced dead at 3:20 p.m. Monday on the scene, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. Lojko was working on the rear porch of a building at 1941 W. Armitage Ave., and while he was on the stairs between the second and third floors, fell to his death about 2 p.m., according to police News Affairs Officer Kristina Schuler.
Man killed in Johnston County tractor accident
Middlesex, NC - A man culling tobacco in northern Johnston County died this morning when his shirt got tangled in a piece of equipment. Mario Morales, 35, died late this morning after being pulled into a tobacco harvester, said Tammy Amaon, spokeswoman for the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office. He and a group of other workers — harvesting for Nash County farmer Derick Bissette — had been clearing a crop of tobacco on 2153 Woodard Dairy Road, Amaon said. Morales was operating a harvester alone, while several others worked on nearby equipment. Fellow workers were unable to pull him out of the machine in time, Amaon said. Emergency workers declared him dead with they arrived. An investigator from the state Department of Labor will be looking into Morales death, said spokesman Neal O'Briant
Welder's death prompts inquiry
TAMPA, FL - Wilfredo Montalvo Morales left Puerto Rico in search of a better job, trying to provide for his family.
A sweet-natured man with big dreams, he was optimistic, figuring he could make a living from welding skills learned from his father, said his cousin's wife, Sonia Aleman. His search brought him to New Orleans, then to Tampa, where he was hired as a welder at a shipyard. But on his second day on the job, Morales, 40, collapsed inside a ship and died.
Spancrete Employees, Pilot Killed in Plane Crash
Waukesha, WI - The president of a Waukesha concrete company says his brother, two employees, and an area pilot were killed in the crash of a small plane in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Spancrete president John Nagy says his 30-year-old brother, Dan, and the three others were traveling to Canada during a business trip when their plane crashed. The twin-engine plane went down near the Chippewa Correctional Facility Monday morning, narrowly missing some buildings. John Nagy says Spancrete employees 47-year-old James Wehr and 59-year-old Mike Wraalstad were also aboard the plane. Nagy says he doesn't know the pilot's identity. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are looking into the crash. Nagy says Spancrete is a family company, and the men who worked together also were friends.
Industrial fatality at Tyson Foods in Center
Center, TX - A contracted long-haul truck driver for Tyson Foods was killed early Sunday in an industrial accident at the Tyson Foods plant in Center. Forty-nine-year-old Lloyd E. Koch, of Lincoln, Ark,. was apparently making preparations to haul a truckload of frozen chicken when he was run over by another rig at the plant, according to Shelby County Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 Harold Osborne. "He was out wandering around in the parking lot, and there was another one backing up and they didn't see him," Osborne said. Osborne said the man was "run over" by the rig, and he died of trauma to the head and chest areas.
Construction Worker Killed by Lightning
WESLEY CHAPEL, FL (AP) -- Authorities say a construction worker was killed by a lightning strike yesterday in Wesley Chapel as heavy thunderstorms moved into the area.
Firefighters were sent to a construction site at the Meadow Pointe Three subdivision north of Tampa about 4 p.m. Rescuers reported the man was dead 15 minutes later. The man's name was not immediately available.
Seattle mourns officer killed in crash
SEATTLE, WA - Flags in Seattle have been lowered to half-staff as the city mourns the loss of rookie officer Joselito “Lito” Barber, killed Sunday when his squad car was broadsided by an SUV. Authorities now say the 31-year-old woman driving the SUV had no license, and recently had a warrant issued for her arrest. Police spokesman Sean Whitcomb said Officer Joselito "Lito" Barber, 26, was working alone on a routine patrol, was driving northbound on 23rd Avenue when he entered the intersection at Yesler on a green light around 4 a.m. in the Central District. Police say a woman driving an SUV ran a red light and rammed into the officer's car, killing him on impact.
ATV crash kills set worker during filming in Mesa area
MESA, AZ — An assistant propmaster died on the set of a movie starring Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner. "The Kingdom" is a contemporary thriller set in the Middle East. Part of the film is being shot in the far eastern part of metropolitan Phoenix in Mesa on the Loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway, part of which is now adorned with signs in Arabic. Just after shooting ended Saturday, 25-year-old Nick Papac of Los Angeles was driving an all-terrain vehicle on the freeway, which has been closed to the public. He crashed the golf-cart-like vehicle into a sport utility vehicle carrying the director of the film, according to a press release from officials with the movie. After paramedics with Universal Pictures/Forward Pass attended to Papac, he was flown to a local hospital, where he died a few hours later from severe head injuries. No one else was injured in the crash. Filming of the movie was suspended on Sunday and will resume on Wednesday.
Driver charged with DWI in highway worker's death
Cache, MO -- Cpl. Julie Scerine of the Missouri Highway Patrol said the death of a highway worker Aug. 9 on Highway 40 (Interstate 64) in Frontenac is a deadly reminder of construction-zone safety.
Michael Poahway, 50, of Cache, Okla., was killed while working with a crew repaving westbound lanes on the highway just east of Ballas Road about 3:50 a.m. last Wednesday.
Copter crash kills 4 heading to wildfire
A pilot and three forest workers were killed in Idaho on Sunday when a helicopter crashed while heading to join the battle against a wildfire in the Payette National Forest. Fire crews in the area have been working to protect the cabin community of Yellow Pine from an 11-square-mile complex of fires.
BRPD motorcycle officer killed in traffic accident
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Baton Rouge police say an officer died today (Monday) when his motorcycle hit a car which turned left at a light Monday. Sergeant Don Kelly says the other driver is in serious condition.
Kelly says 31-year-old Corporal Christopher Metternich was thrown from his motorcycle and landed on his head when he hit the side of a car driven by 63-year-old Betty Morse of Baton Rouge. He says Morse was taken to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center.
Accident at Merc kills two workers
Two workers were killed Monday morning when large chunks of concrete fell from the 19th floor of the Mercantile complex in downtown Dallas, authorities said.
The debris was knocked loose at about 9:30 a.m. by a Bobcat front-end loader operating on the 19th floor of the historic building, said Cpl. Jamie Matthews, a police spokeswoman.The victims were having a conversation when the material fell on them, Matthews said. One man was in the cab of a tractor-trailer rig and the other man was standing nearby, she said.
The truck driver was Edgar Omar Navarro Santos, 34, of Dallas, said a spokeswoman for the Dallas County medical examiner's office. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The other man was Keyvin Oliva, 21, also of Dallas, who died later at Baylor Medical Center.
Residents mourn ice cream man
Chicago, IL - Weekend murder victim Hector Jimenez didn't live in the Lawndale neighborhood where he sold ice cream, but residents there still viewed him as one of their own. "The ice cream costs 75 cents, but he'll give it to you for 50 cents," said Josie Smith, who had bought ice cream from Jimenez for years. "He'd always say, 'Why don't you ever have enough money?'" Chicago Police detectives spent Sunday trying to figure out who shot Jimenez to death Saturday night while he drove his ice cream truck on his familiar route: South Harding Avenue between 19th and 18th streets. Jimenez, 34, graduated from Benito Juarez High School in Pilsen and spent a year at Daley Community College, he told members of the Coca family, who owned his ice cream truck. "He was a real good worker," said Ruth Coca Jr. "He said he looked at us like his second family," Cynthy Coca said.
Chinese Acrobat Killed At Elitchs Identified
DENVER, CO -- Denver police have identified a member of the Amazing Acrobats of China who died over the weekend following a performance at Six Flags Elitch Gardens. Police spokesman Sonny Jackson said Lin Zhao, 19, of China fell 25 to 30 feet while he was on top of a stack of balanced chairs, hitting his head. Park spokeswoman Brooke Brasher said the performer was rushed to Denver Health Medical Center where he later died from his injuries. An audience was present during the stunt. Brasher says they were ushered out of the theater after the fall. Brasher says the troupe was finishing its first season at the park. Its remaining shows have been postponed.
Pawn Shop Owner Killed, Employee Injured
Greenville, SC - Greenville County Deputies and the South Carolina Highway Patrol swarmed Whitehorse Road Saturday afternoon after police say a man trying to rob the Fast Cash Pawn Shop opened fire on two employees. Perry Shealey, who owns a local pawn shop, told FOX Carolina, "If the guy would have come and asked for money Tim would have given it to him...nothing is worth your life." But somebody thought differently Saturday afternoon. The Greenville County Sheriff's office said around 2:30 pm a man attempted to rob The Fast Cash Pawn Shop on Whitehorse Road. That robbery quickly turned deadly. A sheriff's spokesman said an employee called 911 and said he had been shot along with his boss 53-year old Timothy Henson. Debbie Reece, a customer of Fast Cash Store, said, "Tim was always smiling and always in a good mood...it's a shame." The Greenville County Coroner's office told FOX Carolina Tim Henson from Taylors, South Carolina was dead when deputies arrived on the scene. The other employee was shot multiple times, but was conscious when police arrived. The shooting prompted a massive search, the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the Greenville County Sheriff's office barricaded a six block perimeter searching for the shooter. Tony Lee, a spokesman for the Sheriff's office, said, "We have no witnesses that say he left in a car so we assume he's still in the area."
Elderly construction worker found dead in Franklin
FRANKLIN, TN - A 75-year-old man was discovered dead at a residential construction site near the McKay's Mill subdivision in east Franklin today. Police said construction workers found the man’s body shortly before noon. While the cause of death is being investigated, Detective J.P. Taylor said “there does not appear to be any foul play.” The man had been using a bulldozer to clear dirt at the site. Fellow workers noticed something was wrong and found that the man did not have a pulse, according to Taylor. The man’s identity has not been released. A statement from police indicated he was a construction worker.
Colonial Heights officer dies in chase
Colonial Heights, TN - A 17-year Colonial Heights police veteran was killed in a traffic accident during a police chase that began in Chesterfield County. Lt. James H. Sears, 38, was killed early Saturday morning in Colonial Heights, apparently as one police car swerved to avoid another vehicle. Colonial Heights Police officials said in a prepared statement that Sears commanded a night-shift patrol division, but was off duty at the time of his death.
Man electrocuted in accident at Kenan Stadium
CHAPEL HILL, NC -- A contract worker replacing light fixtures was electrocuted at the University of North Carolina's football stadium on Wednesday, the university said. Leland S. Williams, 31, of Burlington, died shortly before noon, according to a statement from the school. He and his co-workers were replacing bulbs and fixtures on field lights. Williams was working at a height of about 90 feet when he was electrocuted but did not fall, said Randy Young, spokesman for the UNC-Chapel Hill Department of Public Safety. Williams was pronounced dead at the scene, he said. Williams was an employee of Kemco of Burlington Inc., the university said. A telephone message left at the company was not immediately returned.
NIPSCO worker dies during repair job
MEDARYVILLE, Ind. - NIPSCO is investigating how a utility worker died while trying to replace a pole carrying electric power lines. Union leaders say Michael Nesius, 43, died yesterday morning when he came in contact with a live, 12,500-volt circuit. The Rensselaer man was part of a crew that replacing an electrical pole that was broken during a car accident. In a statement released Friday, the company says it's creating a fund for Nesius' family. NIPSCO spokesman Tom Cuddy declined to release further information about the accident.
Man killed in construction accident
Ciudad Acuna, TX -- A 56-year-old Ciudad Acuña man was killed Friday afternoon in a construction accident just outside the city limits. The man’s identity had not been released as of press time Friday night, pending the notification of his next of kin. Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Bryan Simons, who investigated the accident, said it occurred about 4 p.m. Friday at the end of Alma Lane off Farm-to-Market Road 2523 at the site of a paving project in Val Verde Park Estates. Simons said an 18-wheel gravel truck owned by Jay Miller/Sundown Construction Co., headquartered in Kerrville, was maneuvering into position near a stationary front-end loader when the 18-wheeler bumped the front-end loader.
Well-known sprint car driver dies after crash
JETMORE, KS - Former Hutchinson Nationals sprint car champion Steve King died at a Des Moines, Iowa, hospital Thursday, a day after his car hit a wall at the Knoxville Nationals. The wreck happened in the final lap of Wednesday night's feature race. King, 33, was driving the No. 88 car with a 360-cubic-inch engine. "We think something broke ... which took him head-on into the wall," said Ralph Capitani, director of racing at the Knoxville Raceway. "His seat gave way, which made him loose and caused massive head injuries."
Highway worker killed in accident; drunk driving suspected
LADUE, Mo. - A highway construction worker from Oklahoma was killed early Wednesday when he was struck by a car allegedly driven by a drunk driver in west St. Louis County. The name of the worker has not been released. Missouri State Highway Patrol Cpl. Julie Scerine said the man was from Cache, Okla., and worked for Multiple Concrete Enterprises of Ogden, Utah. The firm was a subcontractor doing work for the Missouri Department of Transportation. The 24-year-old drunk driving suspect has not been charged, and his name has not been released.
Big rig driver in fatal crash ID'd
VALLEY CENTER – A tractor-trailer driver who was killed in a rollover crash Wednesday has been identified by the county Medical Examiner's Office as Victor Manuel Gutierrez-Paz, 42, of Indio. Gutierrez-Paz was driving the big rig loaded with sod when he lost control on state Route 76 at Valley Center Road and crashed into a pickup parked on the shoulder of the highway, the California Highway Patrol said. Gutierrez-Paz was trapped in the cab of the truck and could not be freed.
Worker electrocuted in Worth County
NORTHWOOD, IA — A Worth County secondary road worker was killed Thursday when the augur he was operating came into contact with a high voltage power line.
Pronounced dead at the scene was 49-year-old Claire “Rocky” Low of Northwood, Worth County Sheriff David Gentz reported.
“It appears he was digging a sign hole and in the process of raising the augur hit an 8,000-volt power line,” Dr. Steven Goetz, Worth County medical examiner, said.
Tree trimmer dies after saw taps 7,200-volt line in Dunedin
DUNEDIN, FL - A tree trimmer cutting branches off a gigantic oak in a back yard was electrocuted Monday after his saw apparently touched a 7,200-volt power line, authorities said.
Jaime Bautista, 29, was working in a five-person crew for Hanson Tree Service of Clearwater. During the morning, they were trimming large trees at 1149 Nelson St., a home just east of the Dunedin Country Club. Four crew members were working in front of the house, while Bautista was trimming a grand oak in the back yard, investigators said.
He was wearing a harness and using a manual pole saw. Just before 10:45 a.m., Bautista was roughly 30 feet up in the tree when his saw apparently touched what is called a primary line, the most powerful line that can be found in a residential area, said Chief Tom Brennan of the Dunedin Fire Department.
Richland County paramedic dies in line of duty
Columbia, SC -- A Richland County Emergency Services worker died early Saturday morning after helping to treat an injured patient.
Lieutenant Woodford "Woody" King responded to an incident on Lucious Rd. Saturday morning to back up a paramedic crew treating a patient. After the victim was transported by the initial responding EMS unit, Woody collapsed at the scene.
Public safety workers, including Columbia Police officers, began resuscitative procedures, and paramedics worked to revive Woody at the scene. Richland County EMS paramedics transported Woody to Palmetto Richland Hospital, where lifesaving efforts were continued. Despite the efforts of EMS and the hospital, Woody passed away.
Arts academy employee dies after 35-foot fall
IDYLLWILD, CA - The man, 43, was in a bucket attached to a crane when the accident occurred. Students and employees at the Idyllwild Arts Academy are reacting with shock over the death of a well-liked maintenance supervisor. Keith James Kent, 43, of Idyllwild, died Tuesday at Riverside County Regional Medical Center in Moreno Valley about two hours after falling approximately 35 feet and landing on industrial equipment, authorities said. Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Daniel Anne said deputies responded at about 1 p.m. after receiving a report of an industrial accident at the Temecula Road school in the San Jacinto Mountains. Kent suffered multiple traumatic injuries in the fall and was taken by helicopter to the hospital, authorities said. Kent was working in a bucket attached to a crane when he fell, according to a release from the Riverside County coroner's office.
Worker dies in accident at Moyle cement plant
Ontonagon, MI — A 30-year-old man died Wednesday evening while working at the Moyle Construction Cement Plant on M-38 in Ontonagon. Tom Kestie, of Dollar Bay, was found trapped between an end loader and a conveyer belt at about 5:25 p.m. He passed away at 7:13 p.m. Jeff Moyle, president of Moyle Construction & Development Inc., said Kestie had been employed with the company for three years as a concrete truck driver and operator. “He was very well liked and responsible,” Moyle said. “He knew what he was doing. It wasn’t his first day on the job by any means.” Kestie was not married and does not have any children. His mother lives in Calumet. Moyle said Kestie was doing work around the yard when the accident happened. “It happened in late afternoon and they were almost done for the day,” he said. “He was there by himself.” Moyle said he could not provide more specific details until an investigation by the Michigan Occupational Safety Health Administration is completed. A representative from MIOSHA is headed from Escanaba to the site today.
CHP Officer Dies After Hit-And-Run Collision
Oakland, CA - The California Highway Patrol continues to search for a hit-and-run suspect vehicle, possibly a red or tan Buick with front-end damage, that was involved in a collision Saturday night in Oakland that killed Officer Brent Clearman. Meanwhile, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was among those lamenting the loss of Clearman, who died today from wounds suffered in the accident on Interstate Highway 880. "Californians owe a debt of gratitude to the brave men and women who put themselves in constant danger to keep us safe," Schwarzenegger said in a statement released this afternoon. "Officer Clearman exemplified that commitment and courageously made the ultimate sacrifice. Our hearts go out to his friends and family during this difficult time." Clearman was 33 years old and is survived by his wife Cathy Jo. Flags at the state Capitol will be flown at half-staff in his honor.
Police release name of man killed in work accident
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -- Police in Providence have released the name of a Capco Steel worker killed on the job last week. John Maki died Friday after he was hit in the head with a piece of steel at the company's facility in Providence. The police say the 60-year-old Cranston man died in a work-related accident. Capco is the largest steel manufacturer in Rhode Island.
Worker killed in Cass County
CALVIN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) -- A St. Johns man died in a workplace accident, Cass County Sheriff Joseph M. Underwood Jr. said. The victim was identified as Curtis Sorell, 34, an employee of Kent Power Co. of Kent City. Sorell was working on a new electrical substation about 1:40 p.m. Monday when he came in contact with an area of high voltage, then fell from the structure, Underwood said in a statement. Co-workers began CPR before an ambulance arrived, but Sorell was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remained under investigation Tuesday. It was not immediately known if Sorell was electrocuted or was killed by the fall.
Pizza man killed after last run
Minneapolis, MN - 20-year-old was saving for college, had just finished night's work A pizza deliveryman lay dying on a tree-lined street in North Minneapolis late Sunday, murmuring for help. His customer heard the shot. She spun around and anxiously called to him from her porch. "Sir, can you hear me?" Toua Xiong didn't answer. He soon was dead, killed while trying to earn money for college. At Pizza Hut, where Toua Xiong worked, the shift manager was especially mournful. Toua Xiong was his brother. The deliveryman was on his last run of the night.
Convenience Store Employee Dead After Fairfield Shooting
Fiarfield, TN - A convenience store worker is dead, shot by a robber in his store. Police are worried because the victim obeyed all the gunmen's requests. The employee was shot once in the chest around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the YR Market in Fairfield. Known as Raj, the victim was also a co-owner of the store. The convenience store is located at the corner of Lafayette Street and Fairfield Avenue. The robber walked into the store, demanded money, fired a shot, and fled the scene. The clerk was found by an off-duty store employee. “The clerk complied with the robbers demand, and according to witnesses, as he exited the store, he turned and shot the clerk one time in the chest,” Metro Police Spokesperson Amanda Sluss said. “The 24-year-old clerk was pronounced dead at the scene.”
Carnival Worker Killed In Accident
Escanaba, MI - An employee of Skerbeck Brothers Carnival in Escanaba has been killed in an accident downstate. The victim is a 36-year-old man from Gladstone. His name has not yet been released. The accident happened early Sunday morning at a fair in St. Clair County. The Sheriff's Department says the employee suffered a fatal head injury when the amusement park trailer he was working on lost support from one of its hydraulic jacks. Skerbeck Brothers Carnival says they're working with state and local officials to understand the cause of the accident and prevent it from happening again.
Maintenance worker killed in explosion in Endicott
ENDICOTT, NY — A routine procedure ended in a tragedy Thursday as one maintenance worker was killed and another seriously burned in an explosion at the Huron Real Estate Associates campus in Endicott. “We're obviously devastated. We're doing our best to deal with the employee who was burned and reach out to the families,” said James Sullivan, vice president of human resources for Huron Real Estate Associates and Endicott Interconnect Technologies. Huron Real Estate Associates The four-story building houses about 300 employees from IBM, EI, and Fidelity Investments. The accident took place in the building's mechanical room. Marion Korcipa, 54, of Endicott, died in the explosion, while Ronald Walter, 58, of Brackney, Pa., was seriously injured. The two maintenance workers were doing routine repair work to a pressurized steam pipe in Building 14 on the Huron campus, 1301 North St., at the time of the accident, Sullivan said.
Plant employee dies from injuries
DAYTON, Tenn. — An employee of Fuji Hunt Specialty Products has died from injuries sustained in a plant explosion last week, a hospital spokeswoman said today. Michael Lockhart, 35, of Dunlap, died Sunday at Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga, hospital officials said. Mr. Lockhart was working early Thursday morning when there was an explosion and fire at the plant. The plant manager said last week that company officials are investigating the cause of the explosion. Officials with the Tennessee Occupation Safety and Health Administration also are probing the blast, state officials said.