Window Worker Killed
Orlando, FL - A construction worker is dead and another critically hurt after an accident at a hotel near Disney. Investigators say the workers were installing windows at the Bonnet Creek Resort at 536 and Buena Vista Drive when several large heavy panes of glass fell on them. Each one weighs over 60 pounds. It took almost a half an hour just to get them out from under the glass. One worker did not survive. The second person was airlifted to ORMC with critical injuries.
Q'boro Bridge foreman, hi-rise worker plummet to death from scaffolds
New York, NY -- Two construction workers plunged to their deaths yesterday in separate scaffolding accidents - one on the Queensboro Bridge, the other at an upper East Side high-rise. The U.S. Labor Department was investigating both fatal falls in which the workers were not wearing their safety harnesses.
The first incident came just before 11:30 a.m. when a painting foreman fell to his death as he tried to fix a jammed scaffold on the Queensboro Bridge. The employee with Alpha Painting & Construction Co. of Baltimore, identified by co-workers as Manno Oh, 45, went to help two workers lower a stalled scaffold, authorities said. But the scaffold dipped, and Oh, without a safety harness to catch him, fell more than 100 feet to his death.
Meanwhile, about 1:15 p.m., a 63-year-old employee of Basonas Construction Corp. plummeted 65 feet to his death from a luxury high-rise at 880 Fifth Ave. on the upper East Side. The worker, whose name was not immediately released, was working on a scaffold when he was knocked off by a gust of wind that hit him while removing his harness to switch to another one, police said.
4 Firefighters Killed in California Blaze
Four firefighters were killed today when a fast-moving arson fire fed by Santa Ana winds churned through the rugged wild terrain of Riverside County, destroying homes and forcing hundreds of residents to flee.
It was on one of those rescue efforts that a crew of firefighters were trapped in their vehicle as the rapidly moving fire simply devoured their attempt at shelter from the firestorm.
The loss of four firefighters to the Ezperanza Fire hit close to home for Big Bear Valley. One of the Forest Service fallen firefighters, Jess McLean, is the nephew of Jim and Barbara McLean of Apples Bed and Breakfast.
Engine Operator McLean, 27, and his engine company were overrun by the intense blaze burning near Cabazon. Also killed were Captain Mark Loutzenhiser, 44, Assistant Engine Operator Jason McKay, 27 and Firefighter Daniel Hoover-Najera, 20. Firefighter Pablo Cedera, 23, remains in critical condition.
Restaurant worker kills fellow employee
EAST CALN, PA - A Philadelphia man shot and killed a male co-worker on Friday afternoon behind the Japanese restaurant where the two men worked, police said. Bung Mac, 59, a native of Saigon, Vietnam, was arrested in Philadelphia less than two hours after the shooting. Mac told a Philadelphia police officer that he had "just shot someone in Downingtown," Chester County District Attorney Joseph Carroll said. "I've been in law enforcement for 30 years," Carroll said Friday evening at the Downingtown police station. "I've never heard of anything like this." Bung allegedly shot Long Nhat Trinh, 28, of Philadelphia, in the abdomen about 15 times at close range as Trinh sat in his silver Toyota Corolla behind the Hibachi Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar in the 900 block of Lancaster Avenue.
Arizonan dies in industrial accident in eastern Utah
Salt Lake City, UT - An Arizona man died Thursday in an accident at a rail yard in eastern Utah. Nelson Begay, 46, of Pinon, Ariz., was dead on the tracks when Grand County sheriff's deputies arrived.
The accident occurred about 4:30 p.m. near Cisco while Union Pacific Railroad workers were moving equipment, the sheriff's office said. It was unknown Friday how the accident occurred.
Landscape worker dies after he being pinned underwater by lawn mower
WELLINGTON, Fla. (AP) - A landscape worker died pinned underwater after his lawn mower flipped into a pond, authorities said.
The man, who was not named, was working near a horse pasture and stable in Wellington when the lawn mower he was riding went into a pond, sheriff's deputies said.
The man was under water for an unknown period of time. A co-worker found the man beneath the water and called 911 at 9:10 a.m., deputies said. A deputy responded and attempted to revive him, but the man died at the scene. The victim was identified as a 45- or 46-year-old man.
Officer killed in shooting
FAIRFIELD, AL -- A police officer sent to check on a suspicious vehicle in Fairfield was fatally shot as she stepped from her patrol car Monday, and a backup officer was wounded as he arrived at the scene seconds later.
Officer Mary Smith, 48, who joined the Fairfield Police Department two months ago after retiring from the police force in neighboring Birmingham, was responding to a resident's call about a suspicious vehicle about 10:15 a.m. when she was shot.
West Yellowstone officer killed in crash
WEST YELLOWSTONE, WY - A police officer responding to an accident near here was killed when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed.
Patrick Kramer, 29, died after losing control of his vehicle at about 10 a.m. Sunday, the Gallatin County coroner's office said in a statement. The crash occurred about six miles west of West Yellowstone on Highway 20.
Sheridan sheriff shot to death
Salina, KS - Sheridan County Sheriff James Johnson and a rural Sheridan County man who shot him were both killed Thursday afternoon during an incident at the sheriff's office.
Johnson was talking to Steven P. Reitcheck, 35, about a possible commitment to a mental health facility when Reitcheck pulled a handgun and fired, said Kyle Smith, deputy director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
Van accident kills Danbury man By Brian Saxton
NEW FAIRFIELD, CT -- A 25-year-old Danbury man was killed Thursday morning after his van slid off a stretch of high ground at a local residence and crashed to the bottom of the front yard. State police later identified the man as Christiano Goncalves Lopez, a native of San Paolo, Brazil, who had driven to the house on Hardscrabble Road to work on a construction and renovation project.
State Trooper William Tate said Lopez died at the scene of the crash and that the case is still under investigation.
Head-on crash on I-215 kills 2, seriously injures 2
NORTH SALT LAKE — Two people were killed and two others injured Wednesday in a head-on collision involving a minivan carrying state education workers. Glenn Williams, 52, of Murray, and 33-year-old Christopher Carter Luke, of Bountiful, were killed just before 9 a.m. on I-215 near Redwood Road. For an unknown reason, Luke's car drifted into the median, drove down it for about 100 yards and then drifted into oncoming traffic, striking a minivan head-on, said Utah Highway Patrol trooper Blaine Robbins.
Truck Driver Killed In Traffic Accident
Crawford, AR - A truck driver was killed in an accident Tuesday afternoon near the Crawford and Washington county lines, the Arkansas State Police reported. The accident happened about 3:15 p.m. on Arkansas 59. Trooper Patrick Smith said the Southwest City, Mo., truck driver, whose name he withheld pending notification of next of kin, was driving north in a semi-tractor pulling a trailer loaded with chicken parts. “He failed to negotiate a (right-hand) curve, crossed the center line, and the weight in the trailer shifted, causing the trailer and then the truck to turn over on the driver’s side,” Smith said.
Reserve deputy killed at crash site
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Ross County man remembered for his sense of duty. It wasn't unusual to see Lawrence Barnes helping out someone else. Often he was assisting at crime scenes as a longtime reserve deputy for the Ross County sheriff's office. Or going on late-night runs with the Springfield Township volunteer fire department. Or staying to clean up after a fundraising dinner at his church. The community he spent a lifetime serving held his memory close yesterday after Barnes, 65, was struck by a car while helping at an accident scene "I'm proud of Larry. He did his job. His job ended today," Sheriff Ron Nichols said.
Waste Management driver dies in crash this morning
STATE LINE, PA - A Waste Management employee died in a one-vehicle accident shortly after 6 this morning in State Line, while fog and slick road conditions kept police busy in the Mercersburg area and closed busy U.S. 30 for five hours. The Waste Management worker died when the garbage truck flipped into a field at the corner of State Line and Trolley roads. “Obviously, this is a very tragic occurrence,” said Cheryl Shields, community and municipal relations manager with Waste Management in Upton. “Our first thoughts and prayers are with the family.” According to Shields, the truck was traveling a routine residential route on State Line Road toward Maryland this morning. Neither she nor police could disclose whether the victim was traveling alone. The unidentified victim's body was trapped in the vehicle until a towing company could upright it around 9 a.m. The Pennsylvania State Police and Franklin County Coroner Jeff Conner continued to investigate this morning and could provide little information.
Ole Miss police officer killed during traffic stop
OXFORD, MS - A University of Mississippi police officer was killed early Saturday morning while conducting a traffic stop near the university campus. Officer Robert Langley, 30, had stopped a vehicle for speeding when the driver suddenly pulled away, dragging him approximately 200 yards. Langley suffered severe head injuries and was taken by helicopter to the Medical Center in Memphis where he was pronounced dead. Within 30 minutes of the incident, Oxford Police detained 20-year-old Daniel Cummings, a second-year UM student from Germantown, Tenn. Cummings has been charged with capital murder of police officer and is being held in the Lafayette County Detention Center.
Worker crushed by construction vehicle
DURHAM, NC -- A man working with a street-paving crew in Durham was crushed to death by a construction vehicle Friday afternoon, according to police. All worked stopped at the Red Oak Street and Lane Avenue work site at approximately 1:45 p.m. when a sprayer truck driven by one of the workers backed into another worker. The dead man, whose identity was not immediately released pending notification of next of kin, was pronounced dead at the scene, police spokeswoman Kammie Michael said.
A Tale of Two Shootings
Cleveland, OH - Thursday turned out to be a violent day for a postal worker in Canton and a convienence store owner in Cleveland. With their shootings taking place just hours apart, we are reminded that becoming the victim of a violent crime can happen anywhere and at any time. Jennifer Milburn was a 26-year-old United States Postal Worker with just under three weeks on the job. The Canton residents on her route came to know her as an outgoing letter carrier that was genuinely interested in making sure they received their mail. She was shot in the head on Thursday while standing on the porch of a residence. Published news reports state that Canton Police, the FBI, and the US Postal Police have two suspects, aged 19 and 21, in custody for murder and obstruction of justice. It still isn't clear if Milburn was the intended target, a random target, or the victim of unintended consequences. We'll never know if she had a fighting chance.
Osnaburg man killed working at Pa. job site
Osnaburg, PA -- An Osnaburg Township man was buried this week after dying while working at a former coal mine in Pennsylvania. Ray E. Palm, 34, of Belfort Avenue NE was demolishing a building at the old Robena Mine Preparation Plant on Oct. 11 when he was hit by a steel beam, said Greene County Deputy Coroner Mary Lewis. The mine is near Waynesburg, Pa.
Worker apparently electrocuted
Decatur, AL - A maintenance worker died Thursday of an apparent electrocution at a McDonald’s restaurant, Decatur police said. Initial investigation indicates that Tony James Gibbs, 45, of Cullman suffered the electric shock while apparently performing maintenance on a pressure washer, said Lt. Chris Mathews, a police spokesman. Fire and EMS personnel responded and tried to revive Gibbs following the 10:20 a.m. accident at the McDonald’s at 3324 Point Mallard Parkway S.E.
Michigan man killed in industrial accident
PLYMOUTH, MI - Wood falling from forklift at Plymouth factory crushes 55-year-old truck driver. A forklift accident at a local factory Friday morning claimed the life of a 55-year-old Michigan man. Police and medical personnel were called to Hehr International, in the 1100 block of North Oak Road, shortly after noon, to investigate a report of a man trapped under a load of wood. Sgt. Mark Owen of the Plymouth Police Department said that responding officers discovered a semi parked on the south side of the building, with a man underneath a pile of wood on the ground by the truck.
Durham Road Worker Struck, Killed By Truck
DURHAM, N.C. -- A worker that was helping pave a road in Durham was killed after being hit by a truck this afternoon. Police said the worker was standing in Red Oak Avenue near Lane Street -- that's just south of the N.C. Central University campus -- when a sprayer truck started to back up. The truck ran over the worker and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The worker apparently didn't see the sprayer truck moving. Police did not immediately release the worker's name.
Concierge Who Fell to His Death Is Remembered Lovingly
New York, NY - He was a fixture in the busy lobby of a Garment District building, the sort of man whose smile prompted workers to stop on their way to the elevators, smile back and exchange a greeting. But his imprint went beyond simply greeting the building’s occupants. He brought flowers on Mother’s Day for the women who worked there and sent cards offering his condolences to workers grieving the death of loved ones. He knew by name many of the people who crossed his lobby. And in death, Ismael Vangas, 47, who worked in the lobby at 1359 Broadway for more than 20 years, seemed still to touch workers in the building far beyond what his job description as a concierge implied. According to the police and Building Department officials, Mr. Vangas died on Wednesday afternoon when he fell 11 stories in an elevator shaft of the 21-story building. He had helped rescue a passenger stranded in a freight elevator stuck between the 11th and 12th floors, the officials said.
Residents reflect after Officer Michael Briggs's death
Manchester, NH -- Oriana Leausa took one long puff from her cigarette and tossed it over the balcony overlooking the intersection of Lake Avenue and Maple Street in Manchester yesterday afternoon. Her 2-month-old baby, Mya, was waking up from a nap and starting to fuss. A car sped out of the alley below, screeching and leaving tire marks in its wake. A few blocks away, 5-year-old Sierra Smith and her 10-year-old sister, Skylind, played with a new beach ball. At the next corner, a woman smoked a cigarette and paced, peering into the open windows of slow-moving cars. The center city neighborhood was shaken with fear, uncertainty and disbelief this week after a Manchester police officer was shot in an alley near the intersection of Lake Avenue and Lincoln Street. Officer Michael Briggs of Concord died Tuesday at the Elliot Hospital in Manchester.
Suspect details robbery, killing
HURST, TX -- Moments after Jonas Paul Cherry arrived to work at Putt-Putt Golf & Games on Monday morning, he was shot execution-style in the back of his head, mid-sentence, as he begged the robbers for his life, an arrest warrant shows. Cherry was shot three more times in the head and legs as they "finished him," the warrant states. He died on the floor of a place he worked for 12 years.
Schuylkill miner killed in blast
Tremont, PA - Dale Reightler, 43, dies in explosives accident at Tremont Township mine. Five others escape. A Schuylkill County coal miner who once said he drew strength from the danger of working underground was killed Monday in an explosion at a small shaft in the western end of the county where four miners were hurt in a 2004 blast. It was Pennsylvania's first underground anthracite mine fatality in 71/2 years, officials said. Five other miners escaped injury.
Tower collapse kills worker
Albuquerque, NM - One power-line worker died and another was critically injured this morning when they fell at least 50 feet with a collapsing transmission tower. The men were setting up an emergency tower as part of a demonstration for an international power industry conference hosted by PNM in Albuquerque. “A tower that was being erected as part of an event collapsed with two gentlemen on top of the tower,” Bernalillo County Deputy Fire Chief Roger Tannen said. “I’m not sure exactly how high it was, probably greater than 50 or 60 feet.” Aerial video from Skyranger showed the metal-framed structure lain over from its base possibly with guy cables still attached.
3 found dead in eatery
LOS ANGELES (AP) - The wife of a Koreatown restaurant owner discovered the bodies of her husband and two employees at his restaurant Saturday, police said. The wife had been searching for her husband after he didn't return home Friday night and found the three, who had been shot dead, at the restaurant Chinkuya, said police spokesman Mike Lopez. The victims were a 44-year-old man, a 40-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman, Lopez said. Their identities were not immediately released, and police said they had not made any arrests.
Amber alert issued after social worker found dead
Henderson, KY - An Amber Alert was issued Monday night after a social worker was found dead in a Henderson, Ky., home and a 9-month-old boy, his mother and her boyfriend were missing, authorities said. The victim was been identified as Boni Frederick, 67, of Morganfield, Ky. She was pronounced dead at the scene, said Henderson County Deputy Coroner Don Farris. An autopsy is to be performed Tuesday morning. A warrant, charging Renee Terrell, 33, with kidnapping had been issued Monday night. In addition, she and Christopher Luttrell are both wanted for questioning in connection with Frederick's death, said Sgt. John Nevels, head detective of city police in Henderson.
One Killed, Three Injured in Construction Accident
Milford, MI -Three workers were injured and one died when a truss collapsed at a construction site in Milford, Monday afternoon. The workers were putting up wooden trusses on an addition being made to the South Hill Church on S. Hill Road. One truss fell creating a domino affect collapsing several trusses. The four men were trapped for about 45 minutes while Milford police and firefighters worked to rescue them. Two workers were in critical condition and two were in serious condition when they were transported to Huron Valley, Beaumont and Providence Hospitals with head, neck and back injuries.
Richmond Taxi Driver Shot, Killed In Car
RICHMOND, Calif. -- Richmond police are looking for clues in the city's 34th homicide of 2006. Investigators want to know who shot and killed a taxicab driver from Rodeo, NBC11 reported. Police found the body of Musharaf Poswal Sunday morning on San Pablo Avenue, near the border between Richmond and El Cerrito. The 48-year-old man was slumped over the steering wheel of his personal car, parked behind his cab. Detectives said they are not sure if Poswal was just starting or ending his shift
Worker killed at Donnelley
LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - A workman was accidentally crushed to death early today as he was replacing belts in a stacking machine at the R.R. Donnelley & Sons plant, 216 Greenfield Road, Lancaster police said. The victim reportedly was a 48-year-old Lancaster-area man who has worked at the plant for at least 10 years. Police are withholding his name until next of kin are notified. The accident happened at 12:50 a.m. today. City police Officer Paul Blanchflower said the man had climbed into a stacking machine to replace belts when the machine started moving for an unknown reason. The man was pinned and then crushed by the machine. Workers and a LEMSA ambulance crew freed him in three to five minutes, but it was too late. He had fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Coroner Matthew Arnold, police said.
Electrician killed at Michigan Tech
HOUGHTON, Michigan — An employee of Northland Electric of White Pine died Saturday morning in an accident at Michigan Tech University. Bill Lehtinen, 57, of Calumet, was working on an early morning electrical project at the university. He was at the Upper Peninsula Power Co. substation on the university campus near its Central Stores building working on a high-voltage switch when the accident happened, according to MTU officials. Public Safety officers were called to the scene at 5:08 a.m. and attempted unsuccessfully to revive him with CPR and an automatic external defibrillator. They were assisted at the scene by Houghton City Police, Michigan State Police and Houghton County Sheriff’s deputies, as well as Mercy Ambulance personnel.
Worker injured at Wal-Mart site dies in hospital
Bloomington, IN - Two other men still remain in serious condition. A worker severely burned in an electrical accident this August at the construction site for the new Wal-Mart Supercenter in Bloomington died Friday. Scott Shelton, of Anderson, passed away at about 10:45 p.m. Friday in the burn center at Wishard Memorial Hospital after his heart stopped, according to hospital officials and family members. He was unable to be resuscitated. Shelton, 35, who received burns covering 95 percent of his body, had been in an induced coma at the Wishard burn center. He was moved briefly to the Riley Hospital for Children in an effort to stabilize him in September. Shelton, an employee of Electromation Inc., in Muncie, was injured Aug. 26 after an electrical panel he and two other men were working on was charged with 12,000 volts of electricity and shorted. The resulting electrical arc -- which extended six to eight feet -- sparked a fire in the service room, lighting all three workers on fire.
Construction Worker Killed in Tuesday Accident
Fresno, CA - This morning, two were working on a street project on Belmont Avenue just west of Marks, when a driver struck them. Authorities plan to file vehicular manslaughter charges against the man who hit the two construction workers. Police say the 18 year old driver pulled out of a nearby drive way, saw the construction and bypassed the cones. Somehow, the driver did not see the two men working on a sewer line and plowed into them. One construction worker was killed instantly. The other suffered major injuries and was taken to the hospital. An officer with the California Highway Patrol says this is a tragic case that reminds people to pay attention when they're in a construction zone.
State highway worker struck, killed on I-44
Springfield, MO - A tractor-trailer struck and killed a state highway worker today on an Interstate 44 outer road, the Missouri highway Patrol reported. The worker, who was pronounced dead at the scene, has not been identified because relatives have not been notified. The collision was reported before noon close to the 93 mile marker in Webster County. A man was one of about five Missouri Department of Transportation workers putting up signage on the westbound shoulder, Sgt. Kent Casey said. The man was struck as he tried to cross a north outer road to get to a parked service truck, he said. Because the crash involved a state worker, the incident will be reconstructed, a process that could take weeks, Casey said. Information will then be sent to the Webster County Prosecuting Attorney's Office for possible charges, he said. The sergeant did not expect traffic blockage on Interstate 44 since the crash occurred on an outer road.
Sheridan sheriff shot to death
Sheridan County, KS - Sheridan County Sheriff James Johnson,54, and a rural Sheridan County man who shot him were both killed Thursday afternoon during an incident at the sheriff's office. Johnson was talking to Steven P. Reitcheck, 35, about a possible commitment to a mental health facility when Reitcheck pulled a handgun and fired, said Kyle Smith, deputy director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
Man caught in machinery at Tilcon quarry in Rockaway Twp.
ROCKAWAY TWP., NY -- A Stony Point, N.Y,, man was killed this morning when he was crushed at a recycling center at the Mount Hope Quarry, the company said. Walter Lubanty, 43, was performing maintenance on a piece of equipment when he was struck by a part of the equipment that was being handled by a crane. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
OSHA looks into death of man who fell from tower
Jerseyville, MO - Federal authorities are investigating how a man fell to his death while working on an empty water tower near Jerseyville. Leo Schleeper, 55, of Brussels, was killed Tuesday afternoon on the tower five miles south of Jerseyville on U.S. Highway 67, the Jersey County Sheriff's Office said.
Man electrocuted in event center accident
Broomfield, CO - A 44-year-old construction worker was killed at the Broomfield Event Center Wednesday after a jolt from live electrical lines knocked him from a ladder. Witness reports indicate the man, whose name was not released, fell about 10 feet after brushing against live electrical wires. He was taken by paramedics to Good Samaritan Hospital in Lafayette, where he was pronounced dead.
Worker dies in trench collapse at subdivision
NORTHVILLE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — A construction worker died while working in a trench outside a $2 million home under construction in this Wayne County community. The 29-year-old man had been installing water and sewer service at the worksite when he was found Tuesday afternoon, Northville Township Police Lt. Greg Rhodes said.
FLYOVER INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT KILLS ONE
San Antonio, TX - What`s been categorized as an industrial accident claims the life of one worker at the Falls Flyover. Police say workers for Zachry Construction, the San Antonio based company building the Flyover, were having problems with a crane. They say 52-year old Emanual Ramirez was laying down tracks for the machinery when he was pinned against the body of the crane. Police were called just after 9 p.m. last night, and Ramirez was dead when they arrived. They say the Criminal Investigation Unit was called on scene. They found no signs of foul play and ruled the death an "industrial accident." Ramirez was from Dallas. Tex-Dot says this is the first and only death on the Falls Flyover, and that only one other Tex-Dot or contract employee working on a project has been killed in this Tex-Dot district in the last eight years.
Officer dies after being struck by federal judge while directing traffic
NEW HAVEN, Conn. A police officer in Connecticut has died, four days after he was struck by a sport utility vehicle driven by a federal judge. Officer Dan Picagli was hit Tuesday night in New Haven while directing traffic in the rain. He had been wearing a black raincoat and a reflective vest. The vehicle was driven by John Walker, a senior judge on the second U-S Circuit Court of Appeals in New York. Police say the accident remains under investigation, but officers did not feel it was necessary to test the 65-year-old Walker for drugs or alcohol. No charges have been filed in the case.
West Suburban Police Officer Shot, Killed, Maywood Police Have Interviewed Persons of Interest
MAYWOOD, Ill. The search is on for the gunman who shot and killed a police officer who was on routine patrol in a squad car in Maywood. The officer was shot several times while in his squad car, possibly a K9 unit, sometime after 11 p.m. Monday. He was identified as Thomas Wood, 37, father of five of Schiller Park, who had worked as a canine officer.
Worker dies in fall from Roosevelt Island Bridge scaffold
New York, NY - A 45-year-old construction worker died Monday after he fell from a scaffold at the Roosevelt Island Bridge in Long Island City where he was working, police said. The man, who has not yet been identified by police, was killed when he and two other workers tried to lower themselves from the scaffold at the bridge at Vernon Boulevard and 36th Avenue in Long Island City, police said. The scaffold tipped, causing the worker, who was not wearing a harness, to fall, police said. The man was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.The other two workers on the scaffold were not injured, police said.
Worker from Shrewsbury dies
Shrewsbury, MA - A 24-year-old construction worker from Shrewsbury died in a work-related accident early yesterday morning at the Chestnut Hill Mall in Newton. According to Newton police, Joshua Rasket, 24, of 5 Shady Lane, Shrewsbury, died in an industrial accident at 1:50 a.m. The state Department of Labor and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are investigating.
Corbett company owner run over, killed by truck
Corbett, OR -The owner of a Corbett excavation company was run over and killed by a dump truck Tuesday morning, officials said, as he adjusted the truck's brakes at the company's headquarters. Detective Jim Strovink, spokesman for the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, said Scott R. Cox, 48, owner of Bull Run Enterprises, Inc., 8989 Southeast Bull Run Road, was crushed to death by a truck driven by one his employees, 37-year-old Bruce R. Rickert, of Corbett.
Southfield man killed in fatal crash
Lyon, MI - A 35-year-old employee of U.S. Food Service in Lyon Township was killed at 4:13 a.m. today after being struck by a semi-truck driven by another employee.According to Deputy Thomas Poulin, of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Crash Reconstruction Unit, Jonathan Baker of Southfield was walking to his truck in the company’s parking lot when he was struck from behind by the truck, driven by a 42-year-old Sterling Heights resident. The driver of the truck did not suffer injuries, however, Baker died after being taken to Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.
Worker Killed While Erecting Memorial
Northview, MO - A state highway employee was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer Tuesday while putting up a memorial to a state trooper who died on the same stretch of Interstate 44. William L. Crain, 35, was erecting a sign naming part of the highway after Highway Patrol Trooper Jay Sampietro, who was struck and killed last year. Crain, who was a seasonal crew member for the Missouri Department of Transportation, was working from a service road that runs parallel to I-44 near the unincorporated town of Northview in Webster County.
Olympic National Park employee dies of injuries
KALALOCH, PA -- An Olympic National Park maintenance employee died Friday of head injuries sustained Oct. 5, the park announced Monday. Daniel R. Green was found lying unconscious on the ground next to the cab of a park dump truck he had been operating in the Kalaloch area, and was presumed to have fallen, said Barb Maynes, public information officer for the park, in a written statement. Green was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he remained until his death, she said. No age or hometown for Green were available on Monday. A National Park Service team is expected in the park today to begin an investigation into what may have caused Green's injury.
Blue Bird worker dies from fall
FORT VALLEY, GA - Blue Bird Corp. is closing today in recognition of a longtime employee who died Saturday as a result of injuries in an accident at the bus manufacturing plant. A short statement issued by the plant Monday gave scant details, acknowledging only that Stephen Sapp, 48, had died and that the plant was shutting down for the day. "Steve was a valued employee that was well respected by his co-workers and company," Blue Bird stated in a news release. Mike McCurdy, the plant's director of human resources, said Sapp died as the result of a fall at the plant. McCurdy said he was not aware of any previous fatal accident at the Fort Valley plant. He declined to further comment, even when asked what day the accident occurred. Sapp's father-in-law, Clarence Little, said all he knew about the accident was that it happened Tuesday, and that his son-in-law, a painter at the plant, had fallen off a ladder.
Construction worker dies in crash at Moonlight Basin
BIG SKY, MT (AP) - An all-terrain vehicle went off the road and rolled down an embankment Monday near here, killing the driver, the Montana Highway Patrol said. The victim, a 19-year-old Ennis man, was a construction worker at Moonlight Basin ski resort, the company said in a news release. The accident happened on Mountain Loop Road between the Moonlight Lodge and the intersection of Mountain Loop Road and Diamond Hitch Road. The man apparently was driving around a corner, went off the road and rolled down an embankment, the patrol said. He was found dead at the scene at about 1 p.m. with the ATV on top of him. The patrol is investigating. The victim was employed by Mountain Top Construction, a subsidiary of Moonlight Basin Ranch. His name was withheld pending notification of family. Moonlight Basin has arranged counseling services for employees who feel they need it, and has offered its staff personal time off. Mountain Top Construction will be closed on Tuesday
Death investigation of railroad worker continues
PAJARO, CA — Investigators are trying to determine exactly what happened to a 49-year-old Santa Cruz man who died Friday when his legs were severed by a rail car. Darrell Clyde Thompson, a native of Sunnyvale, began working for Union Pacific Railroad three years ago as a conductor, said his wife, Cheryl. "He loved it," she said Monday. "He said he never worked with a greater bunch of guys." One of Thompson's co-workers discovered him on the tracks about 9:20 a.m. at the switching station on Salinas Road near Allison Road, said Gary Wheelus, a detective with the Monterey County Sheriff's Office. Thompson's legs had been severed. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Though other workers were in the area, none saw how Thompson, who was between railcars, wound up under the moving train, Wheelus said. "We are trying to fill in the holes," the detective said.
One dead, one wounded in early morning tavern shooting
Kansas City, MO - One man was killed and another man was critically wounded early today in a shooting inside a Kansas City tavern. The wounded man called 911 about 3:15 a.m. today from the Filling Station, 11515 Hickman Mills Drive. When police arrived, the building was locked and the lights were off. Police verified that the 911 call came from inside and then the fire department forced the door open. The tavern was not open Sunday night, but two employees were having a private party, police said. The employees were the shooting victims, police said. Police believe other people were inside the bar at the time of the shooting but left before police arrived. Police said they have responded to two other shootings at the tavern in the past six months. Those non-fatal shootings occurred outside of the tavern.
Ala. police officer dies in motorcycle wreck
Denham Springs, AL -- An Alabama police officer was killed along Interstate 12 in Denham Springs Sunday morning after his rear motorcycle tire burst, causing him and his fiancée to be thrown from the bike into the median, authorities said. Birmingham Police Sgt. Joseph Hill, 45, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Livingston Parish Coroner’s Office, said Denham Springs Police spokesman Sgt. James Edwards. Hill’s passenger, 44-year-old Charlotte Garrett, was brought to Oschner Hospital with minor injuries.
Officers investigate death at warehouse
RUSSELLVILLE, AK — Federal officers on Tuesday were conducting an on-site investigation into the fatal fall of a warehouse worker a day earlier at the Tyson Valley Distribution Center on U. S. 64 in Russellville. Authorities identified the man as Gregory K. Duvall, 29, of Atkins. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital about an hour after the fall, which was reported at 4: 52 a. m. Monday. In Springdale, Tyson Foods Inc. spokesman Gary Mickelson issued a statement saying Duvall had fallen about 28 feet. Mickelson said Tyson was still investigating what happened.
Woman kills ex-husband at his job
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. - A Powder Springs woman has been charged with murder after she allegedly shot and killed her ex-husband in the parking lot of his employer. April Ulrich lured her former husband, Eric Ulrich, 40, into the parking lot of NCR Corp on Ga. 74 with a phone call on Thursday afternoon, police said. Once he was outside, the 45-year-old woman shot him twice, and he later died at a hospital, police said. She was still in the parking lot when authorities arrived. Peachtree City police Chief Jim Murray said officers found a .38-caliber pistol in her car. Neighbor Eunice Weber said the couple was fighting over custody of their 6-year-old daughter, who lived with her father. The couple divorced in 2004.
Convenience Store Clerk Shot
Jackson, MS - Jackson police are on the hunt for three men who shot a convenience store clerk. It happened around 5:20p.m. Sunday at Nick's Food Mart located at 2750 Siwell Road. Investigators say 57 year old Banta Singh was shot once in the abdomen and transported to C.M.M.C. Three men, ranging from their late teens to early twenties, wore hooded sweats when they shot Signh and took an undetermined amount of cash. Area residents are outraged.
LAPD officer dies after being struck by car
LOS ANGELES, CA - A Los Angeles police officer and father of two was killed early Sunday when he was struck by a car while investigating a crash in the Los Feliz area, authorities said. The driver of the car that hit Officer Landon Dorris has not been charged with a crime, said Officer Mike Lopez. Dorris, 31, of the LAPD's Northeast division, was outside his squad car at the scene of a minor traffic collision at about 1:20 a.m. when he was struck, Lopez said.
New Haven Officer Dies After Hit While Directing Traffic
NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- A veteran police officer who was struck while directing traffic died Saturday night, NBC 30 reported. New Haven officer Dan Picagli was hit by a sport utility vehicle Tuesday night as he stood on Chapel Street. So far police have not charged the driver, who is also a federal judge. Those who knew Picagli said he was a school resource officer who was dedicated to kids and the community, NBC 30 reported.
Store reopens, minus one special employee
Rock Hill, SC -- The cops have little but a "whodunit." The family clings to hope. The convenience store where Ned Marshall was gunned down at 4:30 in the morning Oct. 10 is open again, serving the coffee and selling the gas to get Rock Hill through another day. But some people at the BP station at the corner of Celanese and India Hook roads don't smile like they used to when Marshall, 69, counted out the change. It's tough when there are condolence flowers and three pictures of Marshall and his grandchildren on the counters, and a clear plastic bucket collecting dollars and coins for his family. Marshall, nicknamed "Pie," came from an old Rock Hill family, but his legacy was good will.
Cab Driver Shot And Killed In Richmond
Richmond, CA - The Contra Costa County Coroner's office identified the cab driver shot around 6 a.m. Sunday as Musharaf Poswal, 48, of the town of Rodeo in Contra Costa County. The Richmond Police Department is investigating the city's 34th homicide of 2006, which occurred in the Richmond Annex area of South Richmond. According to Richmond police Lt. Mark Gagan, officers responded this morning to the intersection of Bayview and San Pablo avenues on a report of a victim slumped over the steering wheel of his car. Officers found Poswal suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, Gagan reported. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Farm Accident May Have Caused Man`s Death
St. Joseph, MO -- A St. Joseph man is dead tonight from what officials call a possible farm accident. The Buchanan County Sheriff`s Department is processing the scene tonight. Deputies arrived at a farm in the 6500 block of Pickett just outside city limits around six o`clock tonight. When they arrived at the farm a 64 year old man was found dead at the bottom of a deep embankment. The victim's body was still on the scene so KQ2 was kept near this farm home. They say about a half mile from the house the man was using a brush hog to mow when he tried to make a turn on a levy. That's when they believe the mower and the man slid down a 15-20 foot embankment.
Arkansas Junior Firefighter Killed in Flooding
Williford, Ark.-- Christopher Bodkins16, loved being a volunteer junior fireman and was on a rescue mission Saturday morning when the raging waters of Martin Creek swept him away to his death. Family members found Bodkins' body along the creek bank at 11 p.m. Saturday when the waters receded, about 35 yards from where a vehicle driven by his stepfather, Bill Cossey, the assistant fire chief of the Williford Volunteer Fire Department, was washed off a lowwater bridge.
Semi driver killed in fiery I-69 crash
ANDERSON -- Interstate 69's southbound lanes were closed for more than 12 hours Tuesday after a fiery Madison County crash that killed a semi-truck driver. The accident was reported about 6:30 a.m. after motorists drove upon the scene near I-69's 28-mile marker, about two miles north of Anderson's Scatterfield Road exit.
Authorities identify man killed in accident
Riverside, CA -- Officials have identified a San Marcos man who died Monday in an industrial accident in Murrieta. Charles Richard Childs, 68, was a passenger in a water truck that left the dirt roadway and rolled, stated a Riverside County coroners news release. Childs was partially ejected in the collision at Menifee and Keller roads on Monday about 10:30 a.m., according to the Murrieta Police
Florida Man Kills a Sheriff's Deputy and Wounds Another
LAKELAND, Fla. -- A man stopped for speeding Thursday fatally shot a sheriff's deputy and wounded another as they chased him into the woods, officials here said. Deputy Matthew Williams of the Polk County Sheriff's Department was killed after coming to back up a colleague who had stopped the assailant's car on North Wabash Avenue, a spokeswoman for the department said. The colleague, Deputy Doug Speirs, was shot in the leg; he was treated at Lakeland General Hospital and released.
2 state troopers, another person killed in crash
GALLIPOLIS Ohio -- Three people, including two state troopers, were killed Thursday in a two-vehicle crash in southeast Ohio that left both vehicles charred and mangled, the State Highway Patrol said. The troopers were in one patrol car, and the other person was in a pickup. The patrol didn't release details about how the crash happened. Sgt. Jon Payer said the investigation was continuing.
Sgt. Dale Holcomb, 45, and trooper Joshua Risner, 29, who both worked at the Gallipolis post, and Lori Smith, 32, of Vinton, were killed, the patrol said.
Metra police officer shot to death, reward offered
HARVEY Ill. -- Metra is offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of an assailant who shot and killed one of its police officers, authorities of the Chicago-area commuter train service said Thursday. Officer Thomas Cook, 43, who had been serving with Metra for 3 1/2 years, was shot in the back of the head late Wednesday while in his patrol car across the street from the Sibley Boulevard train station in this southern Chicago suburb, Metra spokeswoman Judy Pardonnet said.
Contractor Falls To His Death In Midtown
A young construction worker whose safety harness was unclipped fell to his death from the roof of a Midtown office building yesterday. Jose Luis Melendez Gutirez, 19, lost his balance and fell from the 12th floor of an 18-story building at 800 Second Ave. near East 42nd Street, authorities said. Police said the El Salvadorian immigrant landed on a sidewalk shed one story above the sidewalk. Co-workers said Gutirez was taking equipment to the roof and removing debris when he slipped off a guardrail around 9 a.m. Witnesses said they heard the sound of his body landing and then saw his white hard hat tumble into the street. Gutirez was employed by Skyline Reconstruction Corporation, a Long Island City-based general contractor.
Man Dies In Industrial Accident
Fresno, CA -- Michael J. Dean, 31, of Fresno, died from injuries suffered in an industrial accident at Inca Presswood Pallets, Ltd. of Dover, on Monday afternoon, Sept. 25, 2006.
Farmer's death shows job's danger
BELVIDERE, IL -- A food scientist whose passion for the Earth and produce marked his life, was killed Tuesday in a farming accident. George Muck, 68, who retired as the top executive for research and quality at the Dean Food Co.'s Rockford Center in 2001, died at the farm he owned on Beloit Road.
Patrol identifies man killed working on ethanol plant road
RICHARDTON N.D. -- The Highway Patrol on Wednesday identified a Mandan man who was killed in a construction accident while working on a road at the Red Trail Energy ethanol plant being built here. Henry Reiss, 63, died at the scene about 9:45 a.m. Tuesday when the packing machine he was operating went off the dirt road and rolled over on top of him, authorities said.
Cab driver shot, killed
Anderson, SC -- Officers found a cab driver shot dead early Monday morning after being called to check out a traffic accident. According to other published reports, the cab was found on Jackson Street. The driver was Major Ray Davenport, 48, was robbed and shot. Other reports said the cab went down an embankment and hit the telephone pole that fell on his car. The incident happened after he picked up a customer at Country Club Apartments.
Michigan truck driver found dead in rig at Oklahoma rest stop
SAPULPA Okla. -- A missing truck driver has been found dead in his rig at a rest area on the Turner Turnpike. The body of Marvin Clay Sandifur, 51, of Cheboygan, Mich., was found about 8 p.m. Monday south of Sapulpa, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said.
Man killed at airport work site; Truck at Akron-Canton crushes Medina resident
Akron, OH -- A 60-year-old Medina man apparently was crushed to death Tuesday morning in a construction accident at Akron-Canton Airport. Frank Seibert, an employee of Kenmore Construction, was pronounced dead by Green Fire Department paramedics at 10:16 a.m. The accident occurred about 10 a.m."Mr. Seibert was doing surveying work and was kneeling in front of a large truck,'' Sgt. Stephen Glennon of the Summit County Sheriff's Office said. "The truck driver was advised by someone that he needed to move the truck. We don't know at this time why the truck driver did not see Mr. Seibert.'' Glennon said Seibert was apparently caught by the truck's right front tire when the truck moved forward.
Landlord slain; Apartments' owner is Memphis' 127th homicide of the year
Memphis, TN -- A young resident of the Edwards Apartments on Southern Avenue peers outside Friday to watch police investigate the shooting death of Chung Hsu, 62, the owner/operator of the complex. But dismayed residents said he was much more than their landlord; he was their friend. Hsu is Memphis' 127th homicide of 2006.
Powhatan deputy helping in pursuit dies; Deputy who crashed had arrested suspect two years earlier
Powhatan County sheriff's deputy Robert E. "Robbie" Green died in a crash late Wednesday as he attempted to join a pursuit of a driver who fled officers at a traffic checkpoint. They were pursuing Khalil Jerry Walker of Powhatan, who had been arrested two years earlier - by Green - for drunken driving, an offense for which he was later convicted. That detail was not lost on Green's colleagues and state troopers yesterday as they mourned the loss. No one interviewed could recall another Powhatan officer dying in the line of duty. "It's really ironic," said Powhatan Undersheriff Greg A. Neal. "Robbie arrested him, and his license is suspended and then this happens." It is unclear if Green knew the identity of the suspect in the chase. Walker, 24, crashed into a ditch after leading police on a 10-mile pursuit at speeds reaching 100 mph, police said. He escaped injury and was captured after running from his vehicle. Police said Green, 33, died as he was positioning himself to join the pursuit but veered off the road and crashed into trees about 1.2 miles from where the pursuit began.
A masked gunman killed an unarmed hotel security guard in a robbery early Friday morning, police said.
Volunteer firefighter killed near Tar Heel
TAR HEEL, NC — A man who was a firefighter, correctional officer and Bible school teacher was killed Friday morning outside the town limits while painting markers for fire hydrants on N.C. 87. Ronald Phillip Allen Jr., son of a former Tar Heel mayor, was 37 years old. He leaves behind a wife, a daughter, two step-children and his parents. Allen, a volunteer lieutenant with the Tar Heel Fire Department, had taken a brush truck to the highway Friday morning and was spray-painting circles and arrows on the highway that show fire engine drivers where hydrants are, said Mitchell Byrd, Bladen County Fire Marshal. He was working by himself. Byrd said Allen had parked the brush truck and was painting the highway in front of it about 10:30 a.m. when another car ran into the truck from behind. The impact pushed the truck over Allen, crushing and killing him.
Falling beam hits, kills Duchesne County man
FRUITLAND, UT -- An industrial accident claimed the life of a Tabiona, Duchesne County, man Wednesday afternoon at a job site on the Bandana Ranch north of Fruitland. Tony Casper, 30, was on the ground overseeing the construction of an aircraft hangar on a rural landing strip when a nylon strap broke, releasing a 20-foot-long steel beam as it was being hoisted into the air vertically. The beam hit the ground and then while falling, struck Casper in the head. "One end was 20 feet in the air, the other end was several feet off the ground and it started swinging," said Duchesne County sheriff's detective Mark Heath. "One of the hired hands tried to stop it from swinging, and that's when the strap broke. It fell the full distance."
Worker crushed by truck identified
BENSON, NC -- The state Highway Patrol has identified the migrant farmworker crushed to death Sunday night when a pickup he was repairing rolled over him. The laborer, Thomas Winfield Gurganus, 58, of Orlando, Fla., died instantly sometime after dusk Sunday when the old farm truck slipped out of gear on a farm in southern Johnston County, said state Highway Patrol Sgt. J.A. Starling.
Weber sheriff probes electrocution of man
WEST WARREN, UT -- Sheriff's deputies are investigating the electrocution of a mechanic at the Great Salt Lake Mineral Co. Deputies said just after midnight Thursday Ronald L. Thompson, 48, of Ogden was repairing a pump at the rural Weber County business. After conducting tests and not hearing from him, a co-worker went to check on Thompson and found him in a pond, deputies said. "Somehow he made contact with live lines," Weber County Sheriff's Sgt. Dale Bridges said. "The high voltage went through him."
Officer kills self; 2nd in 3 days
Philadelphia, PA -- A veteran police officer took his own life yesterday afternoon as he sat in his parked car outside department training classes, police said. A colleague found the male officer about 1:30 p.m. in his bronze sedan in a public lot on Buttonwood Street near 10th, police said. He was pronounced dead of a gunshot wound at the scene minutes later, said police. The department declined to release the officer's name, but police sources identified him as James DeNardo of the major- crimes unit's auto squad.
The suicide was the second within the Police Department in three days, police said.
On Sunday afternoon, a police sergeant discovered Officer Thomas Hook, 31, dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound inside his home on Frankford Avenue near Grant, police said.
Rolling truck kills worker, 28
WRIGHT, NY - A New Scotland man died Tuesday morning when the truck he was repairing rolled over on him. Daniel Martin, 28, of Delaware Turnpike, was working on the brakes of a 1977 International dump truck on an inclined driveway at Precision Paving where he was employed when the accident occurred, said Trooper Maureen Tuffey, a State Police spokeswoman. Martin had to release the vehicle's parking brake to work on the rear brakes. He secured the truck with blocks of wood underneath the tires, Tuffey said, but the vehicle rolled downhill and trapped Martin.
42-YEAR-OLD MAN FOUND DEAD ON FARM
CUBA CITY , WI -- A 42-year old man was found dead Monday night at the bottom of a silo chute on a Cuba City farm, the Grant County Sheriff's Department said. Rickard L. Wallenhorst was last seen by family at around 3 p.m. Monday, according to deputies, when he said he was going to make hay and weld a part on the silo unloader while they were gone from the farm, at 1819 Short Lane in the town of Hazel Green. When the family returned and Wallenhorst did not come to the house, a search ensued. Wallenhorst's wife found him by the silo chute in the hopper about 10 p.m, deputies said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Miss. Co. man dies in cotton-picker accident
PROMISED LAND Ark.-- A man picking excess cotton from the header of a cotton picker died Tuesday when the machinery ran him over, the Mississippi County coroner said. Milford H. Garrett, 63, of Gosnell died in the accident near the Promised Land community, Coroner Mike Godsey said. A sheriff's report said Garrett had gotten out of the cotton picker he was operating to clean off a header when the picker began to move.
Guard aided in heist, police say
Contra Costa, CA -- The guard driving a hijacked Brinks truck when a robber shot and killed his partner was arrested early Saturday after admitting he planned the heist with an accomplice, police said. The accomplice, whose name was not released, was being questioned by police Saturday night. Police said the Brinks employee, Clifton Wherry, 28, of Hayward told them it was not part of the scheme to kill the other guard, 24-year-old Anthony Quintero of Union City.
Hit-and-run driver kills newspaper vendor
Miami, FL -- A Miami Herald newspaper vendor was killed before sunrise Sunday by a hit-and-run driver. The vendor was setting up to sell papers on U.S. 441 at Miramar Parkway when a southbound Nissan swerved onto the median, where the man was sitting in a chair. The vehicle, a light-colored pickup or SUV, struck the vendor around 6:30 a.m., continued on the median, then jumped back on the road and continued southbound. The vendor, 41, died at the scene.
Trooper killed in highway collision
CLAREMORE Okla.--An Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper and a tractor-trailer rig collided on a northeastern Oklahoma turnpike Sunday, killing both drivers and tying up traffic for hours, authorities said. Pronounced dead at the scene was Trooper William L. McClendon, 37, of Mounds, highway patrol spokeswoman Kera Philippi said. A trooper for eight years, McClendon graduated from the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Academy in 1998. He primarily patrolled the Creek Turnpike in suburban Tulsa and was responding to a call for assistance when the collision occurred, she said.McClendon was married and had three children, ages 17, 13 and 10.
Wis. Town Grapples With Principal Death
CAZENOVIA Wis. -- A student charged in the shooting death of his school principal was a normal teenager but often bragged about getting into trouble, a neighbor said Saturday as this tiny farm town struggled to come to terms with the attack. Eric Hainstock, 15, told police he gunned down Weston Schools Principal John Klang before classes began Friday because he was upset with a reprimand Klang had given him, according to a criminal complaint charging him with first-degree intentional homicide. The teen was also upset because he felt teachers didn't intervene to stop students who harassed him, the complaint said.
Store clerk shot dead after giving robber cash
Richmond, VA -- In an act described by police as callous and cold-natured, a masked gunman shot and killed a convenience store clerk after the victim had already handed over the cash during a robbery in Fort Bend County. Altaf Jafarali Maknojia, 24, of Sugar Land, was shot once in the neck shortly after 11:40 p.m. Wednesday as he stood behind the counter at the Chevron station in the 9400 block of FM 1464 in the northeast part of the county.