The Weekly Toll: Death in the American Workplace

Following is an account of workers who were lost on the job that we were not previously aware of. Our hearts go out to the family members of these workers and offer our help and resources if needed.

Tree Trimmer Struck by Branch

August 25, 2015 - West Branch, MI - 55 year old Dennis Kennelly of Pinconning was working from an elevated bucket trimming trees when he was struck by a branch. As he was reportedly standing in the bucket of a front end loader, with the branch chained to the bucket, when it split it came back and pushed Kennelly against the back of the bucket. He was employed by Michigan Mud Jacking of West Branch.


Technician Struck by Explosive

August 25, 2015 -  Atlanta, GA - 52 year old Richard "Rick" Lambert of Douglasville was an explosives technician when something went wrong and he was struck by an explosive shot. Details are not known. He was employed by Precision Blasting, LLC of Atlanta.


Worker Dies in Fall From Platform

August 25, 2015 - Maspeth, NY - An unidentified employee for Hmart Har Maspeth Corp. was killed on the job after falling from an elevated platform. Attempts to locate more information has not been successful.


Employee Struck by Iron Gate

August 25, 2015 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - An unidentified employee of Forward Van Lines, Inc. was fatally struck by an iron gate in an unknown incident. We have been unsuccessful in locating more information.


Man Killed in Tree Trimming Incident

August 25, 2015 - Covina Hills, CA - Nahum Fernandez died on the job after he fell while trimming trees for his employer Best Tree Company.  Further information was not found.


Tipping Boom Traps Worker

August 26, 2015 - West Hartford, CT - 43 year old William T. Shook of Middlefield was fatally injured when the boom truck he was using tipped over.  Shook was outside of the truck, deploying its boom on an interstate ramp when the truck became unstable and rolled over. He was crushed between it and the guardrail. He was a bridge inspector working for McClain & Company, Inc.


Worker Struck by Fallen Tree

August 26, 2015 - Beaver, WV - An unidentified worker struck and killed by a tree in an unknown incident. He or she was employed by Lamberts Tree Removal, LLC.  Attempts to locate further information was not successful.


Fall From Manlift Kills Worker

August 26, 2015 - Chopin, LA - An unidentified employee for Flexible Lifeline Systems, Inc. was killed on the job after falling from a manlift. No further information was found.


Grain Bin Incident Kills Man

August 26, 2015 - Farnhamville, IA - 27 year old Bret Steck of Gowrie was engulfed in soybeans in a grain silo incident. He had been cleaning the grain bin under proper supervision when the incident happened. He was working for Farmer's Cooperative Company of Farnhamville.


Worker Electrocuted

August 26, 2015 - Templeton, CA - 46 year old David Kinman of Paso Robles died on the job after being electrocuted by a power line. Details of how or why the incident happened are unknown. He was an employee of Atlantis Water Works, Templeton. 


Employee Struck by Vehicle

August 26, 2015 - Southaven, MS - An unidentified worker was struck and killed by a motor vehicle in unknown circumstances while working for American Sales and Services, Southaven.


Another Death to Being Struck by Vehicle

August 27, 2015 - Milton, FL - 33 year old Patrick O'Neal Wilcox was an employee of True Blue, Inc., a specialized workforce agency, working on an unknown job when he was struck and killed by a motor vehicle.



Worker Fatally Crushed

August 27, 2015 - Burlington, IA -  Matt Martin died on the job after he was crushed between lift arms and a skid loader. Details of the incident are not known. He was employed by Rexco Equipment, Inc.


Man Dies After Fall

August 27, 2015 - Riverside, CA - James Hayes was an employee for Manheim, Inc. at the time of his death. He fell from an unknown height and struck his head. More information has not been found.


Worker Falls Through Opening

August 27, 2015 - Winona, MN - 24 year old Brent Allen Burt was working on top of a barge when he fell, suffering head trauma. Burt was working on top of the barge container and fell after one of the hatch openings had shifted unexpectedly. He was an employee for CD Corporation.


Man Falls Through Window

August 28, 2015 - Cincinnati, OH - 66 year old Thomas Bomkamp was killed on the job after falling from a fourth story window in an unknown circumstance. He was employed by Technicrete Corporation. 



Possible Toxic Exposure Kills Worker

August 28, 2015 - Talihina, OK - 35 year old Lonnie E. Adams of McAlester died of possible toxic exposure after entering a gasoline fuel sump. Details are minimal. He was part owner of Procore Fuel Solutions of Talihina.


Three Electrocuted, One Dies

 August 28, 2015 - Draper, UT - 39 year old Aaron Garn of Eagle Mountain was working with two co-workers on the roof of a local gym. They were using an aluminum ladder that came into contact with a power line and all were electrocuted. Garn was killed and one co-worker was critical after suffering a heart attack after the incident. The men worked for Knockout Roofing, LLC of Draper.  


Logging Incident Kills One
 
August 28, 2015 - Clarkia, ID - 54 year old Bill "Wicker" Schmadeka of Grangeville loved his job and was an equipment man according to his family. He was at a logging site near Clarkia operating logging equipment when it became unstable and overturned. Schmadeka was an employee for Jackson Russell Logging.      


Heavy Machinery Causes Man's Death

August 28, 2015 - Stockton, AL - 61 year old Charlie James Pugh of Jackson died on the job after being dragged by a skidder machine. Details of how or why the incident took place are not known. He was employed by Black Sheep Woodlands, LLC.                 


Man Dies in Fall From Ladder

August 28, 2015 - San Antonio, TX - Daniel Crabtree was killed on the job after he fell from a ladder in unknown circumstances. He was employed by AST-AV LLC.

Equipment Causes Death

August 29, 2015 - Miramar, FL - An unidentified employee for Cone and Graham Inc. was struck and killed by a diesel hammer. Further information has not been found.


Heavy Dump Truck Overturns

August 31, 2015 - Jonesville, MI - 23 year old Steven Douglas Barnhill was in the driver's seat of a dump truck that was being loaded with rocks by an excavator when it overturned, trapping him inside the cab. A sheriff's department spokesman said the truck was loaded "pretty heavily" and rolled down the hill onto its roof in a field. Investigators believe a "mechanical failure" caused the dump truck to overturn. He was employed by US Rock LLC of Jonesville. 


Man Falls From Roof

August 31, 2015 - Longmont, CO - 39 year old Tereso Zamarripa-Hernandez of Aurora was working at a shopping center under construction in Longmont when he died. He fell through an opening in the roof that was only partially covered by a piece of plywood. He was employed by The Ramos Roofing Company.


Worker Dies at Manufacturing Facility

August 31, 2015 - Clanton, AL - 22 year old Cedric Lee Hayes, Jr. of Maplesville was killed on the job when he was crushed by railroad ties during an inspection. He was employed by Stella-Jones Corporation, manufacturer of railroad supplies.


Tree Falls Onto City Employee

August 31, 2015 - Humboldt, TN - 70 year old George "Rocking Chair" Adams was a fixture around Humboldt. He worked for the City of Humbolt for 25 years. He and others were working to clear debris at a local park when a tree he was working around fell onto him. He was pulling vines but did not realize how rotted the tree was. He died later that day at a local hospital.


Worker Pinned Under Materials

August 31, 2015 - Lyons, GA - An unidentified worker was struck and pinned under a bundle of veneers that fell from a scissor jack. Attempts to locate the employee's name have been unsuccessful. He or she worked for Advanced Veneer Technologies, Inc. 

The Weekly Toll: Death in the American Workplace

Below are workers who died on the job that we were not previously aware of. Our hearts go out to the families.


Man Electrocuted Working on Elevator

August 15, 2015 - Burbank, CA - 38 year old Robert Khodadadian was contracted by Wells Fargo Center to work in an elevator machine room where he died. He was electrocuted by the energized conveyors on the elevator motor. He was employed by RJ Electric Company of Burbank. 


Worker Struck, Dies

August 15, 2015 - Mesa, AZ - 48 year old Nicholas Michael Holt was killed on the job when he was struck by a hay bale in unknown circumstances. He was employed by Perry Smith dba High Climbers Tree Removal Service. 


Worker Killed, Seven Injured in Fall

August 18, 2015 - Albuquerque, NM - An unidentified employee was killed and seven others injured when a scaffold collapsed while working on a medical center tower. All workers were employees of McCarthy Construction. Efforts to find more information has not been successful.


Worker Killed While Using Power Saw

August 18, 2015 - Summit, UT - 39 year old Jesus Garcia Hermosillo of Heber City died on the job after being struck in the neck by a shard of plastic from a pipe he was using a power saw to cut. He was employed by MVC Construction Co, Inc. 


Worker Struck by Falling Tree

August 19, 2015 - Houston, TX - An unidentified employee for Trees, Inc. was killed on the job when he/she was struck by a falling tree. Attempts to locate more information have been unsuccessful.


Three Firefighters Killed in Crash

August 19, 2015 - Twisp, WA - Three U.S. Forest Service Firefighters were killed as a "hellstorm" of flame driven by shifting winds overtook their vehicle which crashed while fighting the Twisp River wildfire. Authorities state they were attempting to flee the "hellstorm" in the vehicle and it crashed over an embankment.

 
20 year old Thomas Nelson "Tom" Zbyszewski of Methow, WA


 

26 year old Andrew Zajac of Winthrop, WA



 
31 year old Richard Wheeler from South Haven, MI




Auto Collision Kills Man

August 19, 2015 - Pullman, WA - 22 year old Trevor Michael Bennett of LaCrosse was killed on the job when the truck he was in was involved in a collision of unknown cause. He was employed by The McGregor Company of Pullman.


Explosion Kills One

August 19, 2015 - Bainbridge, GA - 35 year old Christopher Coker was killed on the job when a tank exploded, killing him instantly. He was welding on a storage tank containing sodium hydrosulfide when it exploded and caught fire. Coker was the assistant manager of Liquid Transfer Georgia, Inc. 

 
Worker Electrocuted

August 20, 2015 - Killdeer, ND - An unidentified worker was electrocuted when a crane came into contact with an overhead power line. He was employed by AWI Transport, LLC. Efforts to locate more information were unsuccessful.

Man Crushed by Equipment

August 20, 2015 - Jacksonville, FL - Dorrs Van Der Merwe died on the job when he was crushed under the bucket of a skid steer loader. He was employed by Capps Land Management, Inc.

Employee Struck by Machine

August 20, 2015 - Buttonwillow, CA - 31 year old Walter Alexander "Alex" Mejia of Shafter was killed at his job for Castro Tire and Truck Wash when he was struck by a backhoe. 


Worker Dies of Heat Exposure

August 20, 2015 - Conroe, TX - Shun Jones was a temporary worker on his first day of his job with Waste Management in Conroe. He died of heat exposure while working on a waste collection truck.


Farm Incident Kills Man

August 21, 2015 - LeRoy, NY - 55 year old Kenneth R. Stein suffered a fatal incident on his farm, Stein Farms, when he fell from an upper storage area on the farm.


Wall Collapse Kills Worker

August 21, 2015 - Tucson, AZ - Stephen P. Curtis was working on a demolition job when a wall collapsed onto him. He was employed by Taylor's Demo and Recycling Corp., Inc.


Incident With Machinery Causes Death

August 22, 2015 - Staley, NC - 37 year old Terrance Jordan was an employee of Clifford W. Estes Co., Inc when he died after falling into a gravel blending machine.


 Man Struck by Dump Truck

August 24, 2015 - Sayreville, NJ - 67 year old Fernando Tomas of Long Branch was working for Lucas Construction Group, Inc. when he was struck and killed by a dump truck that was backing up.


Logger Crushed by Equipment

August 24, 2015 - Athens, OH - 51 year old Ronald E. Congrove of Millfield was working in a wooded area for logging using a piece of logging equipment called a skidder.  The machine got off balance and tipped over, crushing Congrove underneath. He was employed by Tompkins Logging. 
 

The Weekly Toll: Death in the American Workplace

Our thoughts are with the families who have suffered the unthinkable loss of a loved one at work.
Please allow us to help you in any way we can. 

Vehicle Crash Kills Man

September 17, 2015 - Superior, NE - 32 year old Shon Derek Disney of Nelson died after being involved in a one car rollover east of Superior. His vehicle went into a ditch, he overcorrected and rolled. He was employed by Zito Communications as an installation tech.

Roof Collapse Causes Man's Death

September 24, 2015 - Beachwood, NJ - 52 year old Raymond Crosby of Keansburg was working on a demolition job at Beachwood Shopping Center when the roof collapsed onto him. The shopping center was battered and sat empty after Superstorm Sandy hurled her wrath. Crosby was employed by Edgewood Properties.

Worker Crushed Under Wall Collapse

September 24, 2015 - Bronzeville, IL - 46 year old Daniel Miller of Chicago Ridge was working with a crew to remove roofing materials when a wall collapsed and he was buried. It is not known who he was working for but authorities said the work did not have the proper permits for the work.

Power Saw Causes Man's Death

September 24, 2015 - Bealeton, VA - 46 year old Jose Alfredo Lainez of Woodbridge was an employee for the construction company William A. Hazel, Inc. when he was killed on the job. Lainez was sawing on a pipe with a gas-powered cutoff saw when it began binding. The saw kicked back causing the fatal injury.

Farmer Dies of Head Injury

September 25, 2015 - Groton, SD - 72 year old Wayne Feller died in a farming accident while working on a combine machine. He died at an area hospital from a head injury.

Man Dies in Fall

September 25, 2015 - Berwyn, IL - 58 year old William White was working at Back of the Woods distribution facility when he fell from a piece of equipment. Details are not known. He was employed by Testa Produce.

Farm Worker Suffers Head Trauma

September 26, 2015 - LaBelle, MO - 51 year old Richard Geiler was in the back of a transport van that was heading out to a feed lot at the Heartland Dairy when he fell. The driver of the van accelerated from 10mph to 20mph, causing Geiler to fall out of the back of the vehicle. He struck his head. He died later at a hospital.

Worker Buried in Trench

September 28, 2015 - Butler, PA - 21 year old Jacob Casher of Clearfield died on the job after the trench he was working in collapsed and buried him. He was part of a crew for A Rooter Man of Pittsburg, working behind a nursing home facility. It is not known why the trench collapsed.

Two Men Electrocuted at Work

September 28, 2015 - Wilmington, NC - 55 year old James Lemuel Williams of Wilmington and 49 year old Manuel Melendez Flores died on the job after being electrocuted. The men were helping unload concrete vaults from flatbed truck when the arm of a track hoe hit a power line. It energized the track hoe and then the wet ground where the men were standing, electrocuting them.

Worker Struck by Train

September 29, 2015 - Kansas City, KS - 49 year old Troy Jordan of Shawnee was an employee for Union Pacific working in the rail yard when he was struck by a rail car and then trapped underneath. Details of how the incident took place is not known.

Lineman Killed in Rigging Incident

September 30, 2015 - Redding, CA - 40 year old Cliff Bengs was a lineman electric crew foreman for PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric) when he died on the job. It is unclear how or why the incident took place, but involved rigging.

The Weekly Toll: Death in the American Workplace

United Support and Memorial for Workplace Fatalities is a non-profit organization that strives to bring awareness, memorialize the workers who have died on the job and to reach out to family members. Please contact us if we can be of any help to you.

Machinery Mishap Causes Worker's Death

February 28, 2015 - Milwaukee, WI - 33 year old Ryan Calkins of Brookfield was working on the Zoo Interchange Project in Milwaukee when he was killed on the job. Witnesses surmise his death was due to a piece of drilling machinery as they saw rescue personnel and others were gathered around the site. Calkins worked for Michels Corp. working alongside Wisconsin Department of Transportation.


Worker Dies in Fall

August 18, 2015 - Henderson, TX - 55 year old Arthur Lee Kilgore of Diboll was working to install insulation at a restaurant in Henderson when he fell to his death. The insulation ripped, giving way and causing Kilgore to fall. He was employed by H. L. Nelson Construction.


Man Hit by Vehicle at Distribution Facility

September 15, 2015 - Braintree, MA - 74 year old Kenneth Montgomery was an employee for United Liquor, a distribution facility, when he was struck by a van at the facility.


Safety Officer Struck After Accident

September 15, 2015 - Miami, FL - 47 year old Andres Boligan was at the site of a motor vehicle accident helping to clear it when he was struck by a dump truck. He was a State Farm Safety Officer. The truck driver attempted to brake but the vehicle went out of control. Boligan was wearing a safety vest and his emergency vehicle had its lights on.


Equipment Causes Worker Death

September 16, 2015 - Waco, TX - 51 year old Terry Leon Lakey was crushed by a piece of equipment at the Terex facility he was employed with. He was servicing a hydraulic lift when he was crushed by it. The circumstances are unclear.


Argument Ends in Shooting

September 16, 2015 - Acworth, GA - 43 year old Douglas Bradley Eriquezzo worked at a local auto repair shop when he and another worker got into an argument outside the business. In a case of workplace violence, the other man pulled out a gun and shot Eriquezzo. The name of the business is not known.


Construction Worker Killed on Site

September 16, 2015 - Tampa, FL - 26 year old Kimbrough Haines III was working on a road construction project when he was struck by a dump truck. He was standing behind the dump truck when it started to back up. He was employed by Lane Construction.


Worker Suffers Probable Electrocution

September 17, 2015 - 30 year old Robert Ruhtr was working at a school construction site when he was possibly electrocuted, causing a heart attack. By the time first responders arrived, they found Ruhtr in full cardiac arrest. It is unknown who he was employed by.


Contractor Dies in Fall

September 17, 2015 - Braddock, PA - 44 year old Parrish Sewell of East McKeesport was a contract worker performing planned maintenance in a part of the US Steel, Edgar Thomson plant that is used in the basic oxygen steelmaking process. During his work he fell approximately 40 feet. Sewell was employed by Whistler Construction Inc.


Man Dies at Grain Facility

September 17, 2015 - Webberville, MI - 22 year old Joshua McGhee of Petersburg died when a wall collapsed at the Archer Daniels Midland grain storage facility in Webberville. He working as a contractor at the site when a wall collapsed, burying him in tons of grain and debris. His obituary states he worked for a railroad contractor, Industrial Railroad Services.


Tree Trimmer Struck by Car

September 18, 2015 - Santa Ana, CA - An unidentified Latino man died after being struck by a car while setting up safety cones for a tree trimming job.


Railway Incident Causes Death

September 18, 2015 - Ashdown, AR - 51 year old Velma Marie Perkins was a USW Local 1327 member, District 13 Women of Steel activist and a long time employee for Domtar Paper. According to reports high top rail cars beyond the normal size were entering a shed attached to a warehouse. The shed was built over the tracks to do switch engine maintenance with a personnel pit below. Unbeknownst to the crew the cars struck the shed structure resulting in Sister Perkins’ death.


Tree Trimmer Struck by Branch

September 19, 2015 - Amhurst, NY - 39 year old Christopher Gordan of Niagara Falls was a tree service worker working in Amhurst. He was in a tree cutting a large limb when a second limb became dislodged and knocked Gordan out of the tree. It is not known who he was employed by.


Freeway Worker Killed by Driver

September 19, 2015 - Oakland, CA - 33 year old Miguel Angel Rodriguez Delacruz was a construction worker for Caltrans working on a section of interstate when he was struck by a vehicle. According to police, a suspected drunk driver lost control of his vehicle, went across the freeway and into the construction zone, striking Delacruz.


Bouncer Shot by Patron

September 20, 2015 - Kansas City, MO - 46 year old Royce Jeffries was working security at Bob's Bar and Grill, also known as Bobs N Motion, when a fight broke out. Jeffries and another member of security tried to break up the fight and remove those involved from the club. According to reports, one man involved in the altercation returned to the scene with a gun and opened fire, killing Jeffries and wounding two others.


Worker Falls From Roof

September 21, 2015 - Chattanooga, TN - 65 year old Edwin "Earl" Morgan II of Ooltewah spent the majority of his life working in the construction field. On his job at TVA in Chattanooga he saw something that needed to be fixed. He climbed up 20 feet, lost his footing and fell into a culvert. He died later of his injuries. He was employed by Total Building Maintenance.


Young Worker Dies During Construction

September 21, 2015 - Duluth, MN - 18 year old Kelsey Hegenson of Stanley, WI was a part of a construction crew working on the Bong Bridge when he was fatally injured in a forklift incident. Details are unknown. He was employed by Lunda Construction of Black River Falls, WI.


Lawnmower Overturns, Kills Young Man

September 23, 2015 - Swansea, IL - 18 year old Conner Devan LaPointes of New Athens was killed on the job after an incident with a lawnmower he was operating. He had been cutting grass for an unnamed lawn company in-between residences when his co-worker lost track of him. He found the mower upside down in a pond and rescue workers found LaPointes under the mower.


Scrap Yard Worker Killed in Explosion

September 23, 2015 - Tucson, AZ - 46 year old Daniel Wright was killed on the job when an explosion occurred at Tucson Iron & Scrap Yard, which handles recycling materials. Under investigation is how a 500 pound MK-82 military bomb ended up at the scrap yard. When Wright began to cut it when it partially exploded.


EMT Dies in Crash of Ambulance

September 23, 2015 - Bergen, NY - 50 year old Barry Miller was chief of Fire Department Emergency Medical Services for Bergen. He was a passenger aboard an ambulance responding to a call when the ambulance struck the rear of a piece of heavy equipment. Sun glare and fog were contributing factors in the driver not being able to see the backhoe until too late. The driver and a crew member in the back were injured.


Worker Dies of Crushing Injuries

September 23, 2015 - Las Vegas, NV - 27 year old Joshua Richard Meade was a contract worker at UNLV's Thomas and Mack Center. He died of blunt force trauma and traumatic asphyxia when he was struck by a trench plate. A trench plate is a large heavy piece of metal used to cover holes in roads. It is unclear who he was employed with.

The Weekly Toll: Death in the American Workplace

We strive to honor and remember those workers who have been lost to a workplace incident and their family's as they navigate the many challenges they face. If you would like to connect with like-minded people, who have been in your shoes, please do not hesitate to contact us.


Man Dies of Natural Causes

September 1, 2015 - Snohamish, WA - 75 year old Russell A. Groth was working at the family's business, Wintergreen Tree Farm, when he was found unresponsive after his shift ended by a family member. He had died of a natural cardiac event.


Worker Drowns

September 1, 2015 - Bellevue, WA - 51 year old Phillip Cruz was working alone when his co-workers lost track of him for about 10 minutes. When they found him, he was face down in the bottom of a water filled excavation pit. He was an employee for Bayley Construction.


Officer Dies of Gunshot Wound

September 1, 2015 - Fox Lake, IL - 52 year old Lt. Charles Joseph Gliniewicz had planned to retire from the Fox Lake Police Department in late August, but was asked to stay on another month. While on duty, three men caught his eye and he radioed that he was on foot pursuit. Three minutes later he requested back up but then communication went silent. When back up arrived, they found Lt. Gliniewicz dead from a devastating gunshot wound to the chest. An ongoing investigation is under way by authorities.


Marine Died During Training

September 2, 2015 - Camp Legeune, NC - 31 year old Staff Sgt. Jonathan Lewis, of Fauquier, VA, was a Marine and part of the Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team (FAST) Company B Marine Corps Security Force Regiment. He died in a hard landing of the Super Stallion Helicopter “while conducting Helicopter Rope Suspension Techniques (HRST) training in a landing zone at Stone Bay,” near Camp Leguene, NC.


Wall Collapse Causes Worker's Death

September 3, 2015 - Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn - 19 year old Fernando Venegas of Corona, Queens was at work at a construction site in Bed-Stuy when something went very wrong. Venegas was killed, and two other workers injured, when an unstable wall at the construction site collapsed. It is unclear who he was employed with.


Contract Worker Struck by Train

September 4, 2015 - Auburn, IN - An unidentified contractor for CSX was struck by a freight train that he did not see coming because it was blocked from view by a standing train. He was in the company of two CSX employees and did not know the other train was approaching, stepped around the standing train and in front of the moving train. Authorities would only say the victim was from Newfoundland in far eastern Canada and was working as part of an electronic rail testing crew.


Woman Dies of Natural Causes

September 4, 2015 - Pascagoula, MS - 53 year old Evelyn Richardson of Moss Point, an employee for Ingalls Shipbuilding, was found dead in her office. Her death was ruled natural causes.


Construction Worker Killed in Fall

September 4, 2015 - Taunton, MA - 24 year old Nicholas Dumont of Pawtucket, RI was working on the construction of a distributing warehouse and corporate facility when he died after falling approximately 40 feet at the site in Taunton. His obituary states that he was employed by MAS Building & Bridge, Inc.


Refinery Worker Drowns

September 5, 2015 - Port Arthur, TX - 66 year old Thomas Courts of Denton was operating a bulldozer inside the Total Port Arthur refinery when the dozer went into a pit filled with a high temperature chemical liquid. A coworker say the incident take place and immediately used his machine to pull the bull dozer from the pit. Courts died of exposure and drowning. He was a Kinder Morgan employee.


Heart Condition Causes Death

September 9, 2015 - Tacoma, WA - Marcus Michelsen was an employee of the payroll office at Pacific Lutheran University when he suffered a medical event while on break. He was taken to an area hospital when he died during surgery.


Power Company Worker Found Dead

September 10, 2015 - Kermit, TX - 49 year old Mark Ochoa was an employee for Oncor, a power company, when he died on the job. He was sent out on a power outage call and when he did not check in or respond to calls, another worker was sent to check on him. That worker found Ochoa unresponsive and pronounced by EMS. His exact cause of death is unknown.


Film Crew Member Dies in Crash

September 11, 2015 - San Francisco de Antioquia, Columbia - 54 year old David Purwin of the Los Angeles, CA area was a stunt pilot in Columbia to help with the filming of a new high action Hollywood film when the unthinkable happened. A small plane being used to transport crew members crashed on take off from a local airport. Another pilot from Columbia also died in the crash and another from Georgia was injured. It is unclear who was piloting the plane at the time of the crash.  Purwin was known for his work staging heart-stopping chases for the movies and also flew life saving missions for critically ill children. He was the founder and president of Helinet Technologies.


Worker Dies After Fall

September, 12, 2015 - Stauton, VA - 22 year old Dustin Hamilton Killen of Florence, AL was working on overhead wires in Augusta County when one sprung back and shredded the bucket off his truck, he then fell 83 feet to the ground. He also may have been electrocuted according to authorities. He was a Journeyman Lineman for Irby Construction.


Equipment Malfunction Causes Death, Injury

September 12, 2015 - Tulsa, OK - 43 year old Steve Shelton wasn't afraid of heights and loved working in the air. He worked in the amusement park industry for many years. Shelton and a coworker were in the air inspecting the SkyRide gondola ride at the Tulsa Fair when the bucket they were working from broke loose and fell. Both men were harnessed but Shelton suffered a life threatening head injury. The men worked for DCM Tulsa LLC, the operator of the SkyRide.


Man Dies From Fall

September 14, 2015 - Hyde Park, IL - An unidentified 38 year old man died as a result of falling from the top of a building under construction. Because most of the day's work was being done on the opposite end of the building, authorities said it was not clear if his death as an accident or suicide. It is unclear who he was employed with.


University Professor Murdered on Campus

September 14, 2015 - Cleveland, MS - 39 year old Ethan Andrew Schmidt was a history professor at Delta State University was shot in his office by a colleague at the school. It is unclear why the instructor murdered Schmidt, but it was also discovered he murdered his girlfriend earlier. After the murders, the man later committed suicide rather than be arrested.


Officer Dies Nearly a Year After Shooting

September 14, 2015 - McHenry, IL - 47 year old Dwight Maness, a McHenry Sheriff Deputy, was responding to a domestic dispute call last October 16, 2014 when a man opened fire, hitting the deputy several places. He had multiple surgeries and was feeling good about his recovery when he died during a rehabilitation session. The exact cause of his death is not known.


Road Side Worker Struck by Motorist

September 14, 2015 - Escondido, CA - 21 year old Leonardo "Leo" Sandoval of Murrieta was repairing sprinklers on the roadside when he was struck by a suspected drunk motorist. He worked for Pacific Restoration Group which had recently been contracted by Caltrans to landscape portions of the I-15 freeway. 

The Weekly Toll: Death in the American Workplace

Following are workers who we were not previously aware of.  Our hearts and thoughts are with the families who have suffered the loss. All listed are for August 2015.

August 1 - Louisville, OH - An unidentified worker was killed on the job after being involved in a motor vehicle collision. The worker was employed by MobilexUSA.

August 3 - Las Vegas, NV - Matthew Hunt was a worker on a bicycle and was killed in a motor vehicle collision. He was employed by Bike Blast Las Vegas.

August 4 - Columbus, OH - Verna Riffle was struck and killed by a dump truck tailgate while employed by Dalton Sealing and Paving.

August 4 - Paragould, AR - An unidentified employee for Wal-mart Distribution Center #6866 died after being crushed between a truck and the loading dock

August 5 - North Fork, CA - John Glenn was an employee for USDA Forest Service (Sierra National Forest) when he was struck and killed by a log while building a corral.

August 5 - Waycross, GA - Javier Avalos was struck and killed by a silo door while working for East Coast Asphalt LLC.

August 6 - Sun Valley, CA - Felimon Yanez-Ancya was an employee for Recology Los Angeles in Sun Valley when he was fatally struck by a truck.

August 7 - Chocowinity, NC - David Partte died on the job after being struck by a large waste container. He was employed by OBI Linings, Inc.

August 7 - Beloit, WI - Phillip Weldon was performing maintenance for his employer Clean Sweep Company when he was struck by a vehicle

August 7 - Carmi, IL - Jetzari Gonzalez and Hector Gonzalez were working for AS Professional Roofing when one was electrocuted and the other was hospitalized when a ladder contacted a power line.

August 7 - Elizabeth, NJ - Judy Jones was killed on the job when she was struck by a top loader machine while working for APM Terminals.

August 8 - Lutz, FL - Michael Casino was an employee for Panera Bread in Lutz when he died in a fall while performing food preparation.

August 9 - Selah, WA - An unidentified worker died after falling down stairs while working for Tree Top, Inc.

August 10 - Columbus, OH - Frank Guy was employed by Scott Wrecking C & D Landfill and died after he was struck by a tractor trailer.

August 10 - West Chester, OH - Keith Walker was killed on the job after falling from a roof while working for R & B Contractors LLC.

August 10 - Hopewell, VA - Ricky Wyche was an employee for Quality Specialties, Inc and died after being exposed to asbestos during abatement activities.

August 10 - Winchester, VA - Boyd Sherman Abell was fatally crushed when an elevated load fell from a forklift. He was employed by National Fruit & Product Co., Inc.

August 10 - Center, VT - Jerry Merrow was an employee for J.E.M. Home Improvements when he died on the job. He was on a roof when his ladder contacted an overhead power line and he was electrocuted.

August 10 - Locust Grove, GA - Nolberto Castro Garcia was killed on the job when the lawnmower he was operating overturned. He was employed by Eagles Brooke Golf Management LLC.

August 11 - Tampa, FL - Darryl Roberts was trimming a tree for Total Scapes, Inc. when he fell from a ladder and died.

August 11 - Woodlawn, IL - Quentin Campbell was an employee for Sawyer Tree Service, LLC when he died on the job after being struck by a falling tree.

August 11 - Itasca, IL - Philip Sanders was working for Liberatore Electric Company when he was electrocuted while working on underground wiring.

August 11 - San Pedro, CA - Rochelle Taylor was working for Eagle Marine Services and died in a collision between a tractor and truck.

August 11 - Pennington, AL - An unidentified employee for Burkes Mechanical, Inc. died of electrocution while hanging cable.

August 12 - Rison, AR - Chad Gaddis was struck and killed by a trailer being lifted by a log loader while working for Tracy Strange Logging.

August 12 - Romney, WV - Mark Haines was an employee for Belt Paving, Inc. when he was fatally crushed under the tracks of a milling machine.

August 13 - Alhambra, IL - An unidentified worker died on the job after falling from scaffolding while working for Walthes Waterproofing.

August 13 - Middleburg, PA - Moses Kanagy was killed on the job when he fell from scaffolding. He was employed by S.R. Silos.

August 13 - Pine Grove, WV - An unidentified employee for Jones Hauling, Inc. was struck and killed by a falling tree.

August 13 - Tyler, AL - An unidentified person died on the job after being struck by a tractor and baler while employed by Gene McCormick.

August 13 - View, CA - Angel Ferreira was trimming a palm tree when the tree collapsed, trapping him. He was employed by Eager Beaver.

August 13 - Massillon, OH - Earl Smoltz was working for Casey's Sales & Services, Inc. when he was struck and killed by a tractor-trailer semi.

August 13 - Revere, MA - An unidentified employee of Caruso Construction and Equipment Company, Inc. was killed on the job when a dump truck tire exploded during inflation.

August 13 - El Paso, TX - Rodolfo Jaquez died on the job after falling from a roof. He was employed by Campos Roofing & Construction LLC.

August 13 - Albany, TX - An unidentified employee for Albany Chemical died after being caught in a pumping unit.

August 14 - Farmers Branch, TX - Pedro Rangel was struck and killed by a forklift while working for Venture Metals, LLC.

August 14 - Edenton, NC - Michael Rogers was working for McClain and Company, Inc. when he drowned after falling from a boat.

August 15 - San Marcos, TX - An unidentified employee of Sawman LLC was fatally electrocuted while repairing a generator.

August 15 - Fort Worth, TX - Emilio Ramirez was killed on the job when he fell from scaffolding inside a water tank.  He was employed by Blastco Texas, Inc.



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The Weekly Toll: Death in the American Workplace

United Support and Memorial for Workplace Fatalities is a like minded group of people who have all lost someone to a work related incident. We are here to help in any way we can. Look for us on Facebook or our website usmwf.org

DOT Supervisor Struck by Equipment

August 20, 2015 - Missoula, MT - 45 year old Jason Rolls of Helena was working with two other Montana DOT employees on Highway 200, using equipment to mix sand and salt. The equipment wasn’t secured correctly and it gave way. The wheels began to move on the rig while Rolls was still standing nearby.


Wrecker Driver Killed in Crash

August 20, 2015 - Kingfisher, OK - 30 year old David Alan Moore was killed on the job after the wrecker he was driving crashed. The vehicle went off the right side of the road, back onto the roadway and off to the left. The wrecker rolled, stopping in a ditch. He was not wearing a seatbelt. It is unknown who he was employed with.


Sheriff's Deputy Dies After Encounter

August 20, 2015 - Houston, TX - 26 year old Tronski Dontel Jones, a Harris County Sheriff's Deputy, died in the early morning hours of what has been deemed natural causes after dealing with a combative inmate at the Baker Street Jail.  The inmate reportedly became argumentative and combative while being moved from one area back to his cell. Sources say that pepper spray used during the altercation may have played a role in the deputy's death. The sheriff says it's impossible to know the exact cause until an autopsy is complete.


Police Officer Struck by Motorist

August 24, 2015 - Bellevontaine, MO - 53 year old Sgt. Peggy Vassallo was an officer for the Bellefontaine Neighbors Police Department. She was on her way to work when she was involved in a two vehicle accident. As she was rendering aid to the other driver, another motorist entered the area at a high rate of speed and as they swerved around Sgt. Vassallo's vehicle, they struck her.


State Trooper Shot During Stop

August 24, 2015 - Lake Charles, LA - 43 year old Steven Vincent, a Senior Trooper with the Louisiana State Troopers was killed on the job when he was shot in the head by someone he felt needed assistance. Trooper Vincent noticed a pickup truck sideways, seemingly stuck in a ditch. As he approached the vehicle, the driver got out with a shotgun and opened fire on the officer. Other motorists who noticed what was going on raced to help and subdued the shooter until police arrived.


Man Dies After Fall From Scaffolding

August 24, 2015 - Fullerton, CA - 29 year old Elman Cano Carranza of Los Angeles died after falling from scaffolding at a construction site in downtown Fullerton. He fell onto construction equipment causing massive internal injuries. He died at a local hospital. His employer is unknown.


Trucker Dies in Crash

August 24, 2015 - Braceville, IL - 37 year old David Lee Conway Jr. of Warrenton, MO was operating his tractor trailer semi when another semi driver attempted to merge back into traffic after having stopped his rig. Conway's semi truck slammed into the back of the other semi, causing him to be ejected and his truck torn apart. Conway was an employee of 5 Star Logistics.


Worker Dies of Burns

August 24, 2015 - Beech Grove, IN - 27 year old Andrew Swanson of Fishers was burned at work on August 22. It is unknown how he was burned. He was working in the diesel department of the Amtrack Beech Grove Facility when the incident occurred. He was taken to a local hospital where he died of his injuries.



IndyCar Race Car Driver Dies

August 24, 2015 - Pocono, PA - 37 year old Justin Wilson, a British race car driver living in Longmont, CO died after being struck by debris during a pile up on the Pocono Raceway track. Wilson was struck in the head by a piece of debris that broke off another driver's car that crashed. Wilson tried to avoid the subsequent pileup, but his car hit the debris and veered into an interior wall. He was airlifted to a hospital where he was in a coma in critical condition before he died. His team's owner is Jeremy Dale in Colorado.


Worker Struck in Construction Incident

August 24, 2015 - Parlin, NJ - An unidentified worker was at the construction site of new homes in Parlin when he was struck by a large piece of equipment. Repeated attempts to locate his name or more information were unsuccessful.


Man Falls Down Elevator Shaft

August 25, 2015 - Manhattan, NY - An unidentified elevator mechanic died on the job when he plunged four stories down a shaft in a Hell’s Kitchen building. Police said he was wearing a hard hat but not a safety harness as he walked across wooden boards four stories up. The beam gave way right over the elevator shaft and he fell into several feet of standing water in the basement of the building.


Two Shot During Live TV Interview

August 26, 2015 - Roanoke, VA - 24 year old  Alison  Bailey Parker, and 27 year old Adam Ward were employees of WDBJ7 News in Roanoke when they were both gunned down by an angry ex-employee of the station. Parker, a reporter and Ward, her cameraman, were doing a live interview when the man walked up to the pair and began shooting. He also struck the woman being interviewed. The scene was caught on live camera but was quickly cut back to the news anchor.


Worker Dies at Construction Site

August 26, 2015 - Minneapolis, MN - 25 year old Jeramie Gruber of Northfield was working at the US Bank Stadium construction site when he fell to his death. Gruber slid down the roof and broke through a guardrail before falling to an elevated platform below. Another worker was injured in the incident. He was an employee for Berwald Roofing, a subcontractor for Mortensen Construction.


Officer Killed During Domestic Call

August 26, 2015 - Sunset, LA - 51 year old Henry Andrus Nelson, a Corporal with the Sunset Police Department, was shot to death when answering a call for a domestic dispute. He was the first responder to the scene, and police also found three woman who had been stabbed inside the home. One of the women died.



Worker Dies After Fall From Truck

August 26, 2015 - Prescott, WA - Manuel Flores Perez was an employee for Flat Top Ranch when he fell from the back of a moving pickup truck. He complained of knee pain but didn't want medical attention at the time. As he got worse his employer attempted to find treatment for him but was turned away because he was, by then, unconscious. It was later determined that he died of a brain bleed.


Police Officer Murdered in Ambush

August 28, 2015 - Houston, TX - 47 year old  Harris County, Texas Sheriff's Deputy Darren Goforth was killed on the job when he was ambushed and shot multiple times  from behind in an unprovoked attack as he pumped gas into his patrol vehicle while on duty. There is no explanation for his murder but the Sheriff feels the attack was due to the fact Goforth was a law enforcement officer.


State Trooper Killed in Crash

August 28, 2015 - Dardeene, MO - 25 year old James Matthew Bava of Mexico, MO was a Missouri State Patrol officer. He was killed while pursuing a motorcyclist that he had observed committing a traffic violation. It is unclear what caused his patrol vehicle to swerve off the side of the highway where it crashed into trees, overturned, and caught fire.


Motorcycle Officer Dies in Collision

August 28, 2015 - Fenton, MI - 38 year old Chad H. Wolf, a Michigan State Police Trooper died after his motorcycle collided with a car pulling a trailer. Trooper Wolf was crossing over the interstate when the car suddenly switched lanes causing Wolf to be thrown off his bike and he became trapped beneath the empty flatbed as the driver continued onto the interstate. He was dragged approximately four miles before motorists at a rest stop spotted the Trooper under the trailer.


Warehouse Worker Dies in Forklift Incident

August 30, 2015 - Harrisburg, PA - 40 year old James E. Brownawell died on the job as he as moving materials with a forklift at Dayton Parts in Harrisburg. He was operating a forklift to remove bundles of steel from shelving in the warehouse. He removed one bundle but in the process inadvertently dislodged a second bundle, causing it to jut out into the aisle. As he turned his forklift around to proceed down the narrow aisle he apparently didn't see the second bundle sticking out and three sections of steel penetrated his chest.

Worker Killed in Manufacturing Incident


August 31, 2015 - Danville, VA - 56 year old Jeanie Lynn Strader of Chatham was a 15 year associate for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, Danville plant at the time of her death. She worked as a windup operator and roll changer at the plant. It is not clear what type of industrial incident occurred to cause her death. She was also a member of U.S.W. Local #831.


Man Falls From Water Tower

August 31, 2015 - Brownsville, TX - 21 year old Pedro Samuel Salazar was performing routine maintenance on a satellite antenna. According to the Brownsville Police Department, "somehow he lost his grip and fell to the ground". It is not known who he was employed by.


Heart Attack Claims Worker

August 31, 2015 - Seattle, WA - James "Twain" Hinderman was a sous chef at the Sorrento Hotel in Seattle when he suffered a fatal heart attack. He was found in the restaurant's cooler by co-workers

The Weekly Toll: Death in the American Workplace

For all who have suffered the loss of a loved one due to a preventable work related incident, we are here to help you in whatever way we can. We are a group of like minded people who have suffered a similar loss so we understand.

Suspected Electrocution in Man's Death

August 18, 2015 - Norfolk, VA - 32 year old Steven "Vance" Weaver of Angier, NC was working on a new Tesla Motors electric supercharger station at the Janaf Shopping Center in Norfolk when he was apparently electrocuted.  Emergency personnel responded to a call about an unconscious person and found Weaver. He was working for Next Generation Solutions Inc. out of Clayton, NC. This was his first time working with a charging station.

Tree Care Worker Struck by Branch

August 18, 2015 - Sebastopol, CA - 21 year old David Mendoza of Santa Rosa was killed on the job when he was struck by a falling tree branch. The owner of North Bay Tree Care was up in the tree trimming branches, and Mendoza was on the ground, when he was struck by one of the branches.

Satellite Dish Installer Dies From Fall

August 19, 2015 - Knoxville, TN - 32 year old Brandon Avery Duncan died on the job when he fell from the roof of a private home. He was a satellite dish installer for an unnamed company working to install equipment when the homeowner saw him fall and called for emergency help.


Robbery Probable Motive for Murder

August 20, 2015 - Florissant, MO - 57 year old Alan Roach of St. Louis was a mechanic who was closing up shop when he was confronted by a suspected robber and was shot to death. He was working for Montgomery Auto Parts.

Security Guard Murdered

August 20, 2015 - Manhattan, NY - 53 year old Idrissa Camara was a security guard who offered to work an hour after his shift ended when he was shot to death at close range. Camara was working at a Manhattan federal building when, for an unknown reason or motive, a man who was a government employee walked up to Camara and shot him before committing suicide. He was an employee for FJC Security Services.

Worker Dies of Natural Causes

August 21, 2015 - Reno, NV - Scott "Spoono" Stephenson was a long time staffer with the Burning Man Department of Public Works. He was in the desert, working on the site for Black Rock City, an art and music event when reports state that he died of natural causes.

Man Struck by Falling Tree

August 21, 2015 - Allenville, PA - 21 year old Benuel Swarey was an Old Order Amish logger working for his father when he was struck by a falling tree limb. His father, who owned Pine Hollow Logging, and another man were cutting a tree when a large branch fell.

Worker Dies in Fall

August 21, 2015 - Chesterton, IN - 61 year old Kenneth Gish of Wanatah died in a fall while working at the Burns Harbor ArcelorMittal plant. He was working at the plant's basic oxygen furnace when he fell from scaffolding. He was transported to a local hospital where he died.

Man Dies, Caught in Machinery

August 22, 2015 - Enid, OK - 55 year old Gary Hobbs, a millwright from Canton, TX, was working at a grain elevator leased by Northern Ag Services when he was killed on the job. He was working on some equipment but did not exit in time. He was carried to the top of the conveyor system, where he was crushed.


Woman Dies of Stab Wounds

August 23, Colonie, NY - 32 year old Jacquelyn Porreca of Albany was a hair stylist at Recycled Salon when she was attacked during a robbery attempt at the salon. She was stabbed in the throat and died later at a local hospital.