Iowa FACE Fatality Summaries: 2005
Summary Case Report: 64-year-old farmer died in a tractor rollover on his farm.
Summary Case Report: 81-year-old
farmer was working on a grain cart in a machine shed. While standing in
the cart, the weight of the cart somehow shifted, and he was thrown in
the air, landing on a concrete floor. The man suffered a skull fracture
and died later at the hospital. Full Report with Photos
Summary Case Report: 44-year-old
female truckdriver was killed when she veered off the highway and struck
a tree. The accident occurred at 8:15 PM. She was dead at the scene.
Summary Case Report: 50-year-old
part-time scrap metal collector was using a narrow front tractor equipped
with front-end loader to move a metal stock tank. He was working on steep
terrain which was covered with snow. He had chains on his rear tires to
increase his traction, but did not use any additional counterweights;
he did not have fluid-filled tires; and the tractor did not have a ROPS.
The man drove the tractor up the steep incline, loaded the tank, then
proceeded straight down the snow-covered incline. From marks in the snow
it appears he had attempted this a few other times and had lost the load.
On his last attempt, the rear end of the tractor spun to the right as
he was driving downhill, and the tractor overturned, pinning the man against
a small tree. The man died at the scene. Full Report with Photos
Summary Case Report: 53-year-old
shop supervisor and another employee for a company that manufactured commercial
building products, were walking past a large steel span roof beam, one
of the welded products from the company. The beam suddenly tipped over,
striking both men and knocking them to the ground. The victim received
an open skull fracture and died shortly after at the hospital. The other
man received minor injuries. The event was unwitnessed by other employees.
Apparently the beam had been left in position on its edge and was thought
to be stable.
Summary Case Report: 58-year-old electrician working for a steel foundry, was one of two electricians working on an electric panel next to an electric furnace. The furnace had recently been relined and the men were in process of restarting the furnace to cure the new liner. The furnace exploded, spewing molten metal on both men, causing severe burns. Both men were taken to a hospital where the victim died later of his injuries.
Summary Case Report: 35-year-old
field specialist (inspector) was driving
a van on a 2-lane state highway when he was involved in a 4-vehicle collision.
Apparently the vehicle in front of the victim crossed the centerline and
crashed into a semi-trailer traveling in the opposite direction, causing
the semi to lose control and crash head-on into the victims's van and
other vehicles. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
Summary Case Report: 54-year-old
truckdriver was driving a semi-trailer load of popcorn down an interstate
highway when he apparently fell asleep at the wheel and crossed the centerline,
striking a straight truck in the opposite lane. Both truckdrivers were
killed instantly. Visibility was excellent, and there were no weather
conditions or adverse road conditions that could have been factors in
this incident. All witnesses behind the victim deny seeing any signaling
or brake lights as the semi moved to the left lane and continued into
the median.
Summary Case Report: 24-year-old
truckdriver was operating an empty straight truck, driving on an interstate
highway after delivering a load of house siding. He was struck by a semi
trailer that crossed the median and hit him head-on (see case 5IA08 above).
The man was not wearing a seat belt and received multiple blunt force
injuries to his chest. He remained alive a few minutes after the collision,
but was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Summary Case Report: 46-year-old
worker in a machine shop for a railroad was grinding on a new 1,200 gallon
fuel tank the company had just received. Sparks from the grinder ignited
fumes inside the new tank, and it exploded, sending the victim flying
through the air and knocking down / injuring six other workers. The victim
received massive head injuries and was dead at the scene. Workers thought
the new tank did not pose a threat because it was new and had never contained
any fuel. However, investigation revealed that a new epoxy coating inside
the tank had given off a flammable gas as it cured, and this gas had accumulated
inside the tank. New procedures for this company now include purging of
all tanks, whether new or used, before any work is begun.
Summary Case Report: 26-year-old carpenter was cleaning tools in a basement, using gasoline. For an unknown reason, the gasoline caught fire and the man was severely burned on 94% of his body. The man died five months later from complications of pneumonia while in the hospital.
Summary Case Report: 32-year-old
forklift driver was operating his forklift in the yard of a home manufacturing
company, lifting a large load of lumber or manufactured beams. The man
was found dead, seated in his forklift, with the front wheels raised 45
degrees off the ground, with the raised mast folded back upon the cab
of the machine, crushing the victim inside the cab. It appears that the
brackets that attach the bottom of the mast to the front axles of the
forklift, were missing bolts, which caused them to fail, and the heavy
raised load pushed the mast backwards as the load fell . The man's head
and neck were injured as the load crashed down on the cab and the mast
was bent backwards.
Summary Case Report: 51-year-old
part-time farmer was using a narrow front tractor, equipped with front-mounted
fork, to move a large hay bale from the farmyard out to a pasture, to
feed some cows. He entered the pasture at an area with a steep slope to
the right, and the tractor rolled over, throwing the man off the tractor,
which then rolled on top of him. The soil in the area was very soft and
muddy, and was probably a factor in this incident, allowing the tractor
to tilt more to the right than at other times.
Summary Case Report: 48-year-old
electrical maintenance manager was driving a motor vehicle over an icy
bridge when he lost control. The vehicle left the roadway and overturned
in a creek bed, submerging the victim under water for several minutes.
The man suffered multiple chest injuries, but the cause of death was from
drowning.
Summary Case Report: 84-year-old farmer was using a tractor to feed hay to cattle. When he did not return, a family member went to investigate and found the man trapped under his tractor, which had rolled on top of him at the base of a hill. Investigation revealed the tractor had rolled down the hill at a fairly high speed until it hit a large hay bale and overturned on the victim. The man apparently lost control of the tractor while feeding his cattle, but autopsy failed to reveal a natural cause that preceded this incident.
Summary Case Report: 48-year-old
worker at an agricultural cooperative was using an old tractor, equipped
with front-end loader, to move an anhydrous ammonia trailer to a parking
area. Once in position, the man was preparing to unhook the trailer from
the tractor when he became pinned between the loader lift arms and the
tractor frame and tire. He apparently accidentally released the lift arms
while standing on the ground, and he was caught under the falling lift
arms, and was crushed against a front tire.
Summary Case Report: 81-year-old
farmer was burning a ditch on his farm when one pant leg caught on fire,
causing 26% burn injury to his left lower extremity. The man had other
medical problems and developed an infection while in the hospital. He
died about three weeks after admission.
Summary Case Report: 70-year-old
farmer committed suicide with a 12-gauge shotgun wound to his abdomen.
Summary Case Report: 34-year-old
supervisor for a rural water project was working with an auger, preparing
to pull water lines through a newly dug hole. He was working with a co-worker,
and the two were communicating normally by radios. After receiving
verbal OK from the victim, the co-worker spun the auger one revolution,
then could not further contact the victim. He was found entangled in the
auger with multiple visible and internal fatal injuries. The man was dead
at the scene.
Summary Case Report: 64-year-old
farmer was "walking down the beans" in a grain bin, knocking
beans loose from the sides of the bin--while grain was being unloaded
with a bottom-feeding auger into a semi trailer. He became trapped in
the flowing grain, and eventually died from suffocation.
Summary Case Report: 72-year-old
professional stock car driver / racer / legend (won 504 races) was working
under a race car in his home shop when it apparently slipped off a jack
and fell on him. He was working alone at the time, and was found trapped
under the vehicle by his wife.
Summary Case Report: 29-year-old
farmhand was working on his parent's farm, driving an older narrow-front
tractor equipped with front-end loader. The man was driving the tractor
on the edge of a field, adjacent to a gravel road, with the raised bucket
full of rocks. While driving on a slight slope, the tractor completely
overturned to the right, crushing the man underneath. The tractor did
not have a ROPS. Full Report with Pictures (revised 7/21/2008)
Summary Case Report: 35-year-old
barge worker and a co-worker were cleaning an empty barge as part of their
normal duties for a marine company on the Mississippi River. The men normally
enter the cargo area through access doors in the fiberglass lids. The
co-worker was lowering a hose into the hold while the victim was maneuvering
a ladder around his access hole. The co-worker heard a sound and looked
to see the victim grabbing at the edge of the hole, then suddenly falling
to the floor of the barge, a drop of approximately 25 feet. The victim
received massive head injuries, and was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Summary Case Report: 52-year-old
farmer and a 23-year-old farmhand (see 5IA25) died after both entered
a manure pit at their farm. The men were in process of pumping out a hog
confinement manure pit, and there was only 4 inches of manure remaining
in the pit. The farmer was found face up in the bottom of the pit by the
farmhand, who called 911, then entered the pit to rescue the man. It is
unknown if the farmer fell into the pit or possibly entered voluntarily,
for one could see a loose chain in the manure that he may have been after
before it got sucked into the pump. When EMS arrived, both men were unconscious
in the manure pit. The farmer was resuscitated, but deteriorated and died
four days later. The farmhand was also resuscitated, but died in the hospital
about three weeks later. One of the volunteer firefighters who attempted
to rescue the men was almost overcome himself by gases in the pit.
Summary Case Report: 52-year-old
farmer (see 5IA24) and a 23-year-old farmhand died after both entered
a manure pit at their farm. The men were in process of pumping out a hog
confinement manure pit, and there was only 4 inches of manure remaining
in the pit. The farmer was found face up in the bottom of the pit by the
farmhand, who called 911, then entered the pit to rescue the man. It is
unknown if the farmer fell into the pit or possibly entered voluntarily,
for one could see a loose chain in the manure that he may have been after
before it got sucked into the pump. When EMS arrived, both men were unconscious
in the manure pit. The farmer was resuscitated, but deteriorated and died
four days later. The farmhand was also resuscitated, but died in the hospital
about three weeks later. One of the volunteer firefighters who attempted
to rescue the men was almost overcome himself by gases in the pit.
Summary Case Report: 48-year-old male forklift mechanic in a northbound field service van collided head-on with a southbound semi that crossed the highway's center line.
Summary Case Report: 45-year-old farmer was using his tractor with front end loader, to feed cattle. He was pulling a feed wagon through a muddy feed lot, and needed more traction. It was his habit to raise the front end bucket and stand on the hitch of the tractor, both actions in an attempt to increase weight and traction on the rear wheels. The empty front-end loader was raised to its maximum height, with the bucket in the fully UP position. In this position the attachment points for the quick-attach front bucket are nearly horizontal. It is assumed the man was driving the tractor while standing on the rear hitch, moving up an incline in the farmyard. The front bucket came loose because it was not pinned; and it fell backwards, striking the farmer directly and causing fatal internal injuries. The man was knocked off the tractor, and the machine continued moving around the farmyard until it crashed into a fence line and dug itself into the ground. Full Report with Photos
Summary Case Report: 58-year-old
driver of a skid steer was working at a custom meat company, cleaning
up a maintenance building. The skid loader had front-mounted forks, and
was normally used in this manner as a forklift to move pallets of materials
around the facility. The victim had just left a maintenance building with
a pallet load of metal junk, old parts, pipes, etc. Resting on top of
this load were three long copper pipes, which were unsecured. Apparently
while driving, these copper pipes fell off or shifted in position. The
victim stopped the skid steer loader and raised the lift arms, opened
the door and exited the machine while it was still running, apparently
to adjust these pipes before proceeding. While exiting the machine, it
appears his clothing caught the right control lever for the lift arms,
and they immediately came down, pinning the man against the right side
of the machine frame. Machine tests showed the machine to be in normal
operating condition, with the down control for the lift arms to be very
sensitive.
Summary Case Report: 61-year-old
man was digging a new pond at his residence using a skid steer loader.
Apparently the bank of the pond gave way, and the skid loader fell into
the pond landing upside down, with the victim trapped underwater. The
man was found by his wife.
Summary Case Report: 75-year-old
driver for a cement company was driving his cement truck with one yard
of concrete onboard. He turned right off of a 2-lane highway, and was
slowly driving over a set of three railroad tracks when he was hit by
a freight train coming from his right side. The train was moving at 60
MPH on the middle set of tracks and hit the cement truck in the middle
of the large cement tub. The RR engineer was watching the truckdriver
slowly drive off the highway and expected him to stop, but he never glanced
in the direction of the train and continued over the tracks. The driver
was killed instantly, and truck debris was scattered for several hundred
feet.
Summary Case Report: 55-year-old
worker for a dredging company was one of three men in a boat on the Mississippi
River. The men were traveling to their work site, which was a dredging
operation in the river. All three men were very experienced, having worked
for this company for the past 20 years. The water was very choppy that
day, and their small boat capsized and sank. Co-workers came looking for
them when they did not show up for their shift, and rescued two of the
men, but the victim had drowned. Summary Case Report:
Summary Case Report: 64-year-old
man was part of a logging crew. He was cutting down trees, when one tree
fell against another dead tree, which then fell on the victim causing
fatal head injuries.
Summary Case Report: 23-year-old
farmer was operating a tractor pulling a fully loaded grain wagon of corn,
preparing to grind the corn for feed. He positioned the tractor and wagon
on a slightly downward sloping part of a gravel driveway, and proceeded
to unhook the wagon. He first put a cement block (cement silo stave) in
front of the right front wheel of the wagon to keep it from rolling forward.
He then pulled the pin on the hitch, and the wagon evidently rolled forward,
pinning him against the right rear tire of the tractor. The man was found
by his brother, who called 911 for help. The tractor was found still running,
in neutral gear, with the parking brake set. The silo cement block was
found four inches in front of the right rear tire of the wagon. Full Report with Photos
Summary Case Report: 66-year-old
farmer was driving his pickup truck down a county road with a full load
of seed soybeans. He was slowing down to turn left into a field drive,
and had his left turn signal flashing. Behind him was a school bus, loaded
with children on their way home from school in the middle of the afternoon.
The bus driver was distracted by children misbehaving in the rear of the
bus, and did not notice the pickup truck slowing to turn. The bus crashed
into the rear of the pickup at highway speed, causing several bags of
soybeans to crash through the windshield of the bus, showering the students
with soybeans and partial bags of beans. The pickup was pushed into the
adjacent field, and the driver sustained fatal injuries.
Summary Case Report: 47-year-old
farmer was sitting under a planter doing some repairs when the planter
fell on him. The man was trapped and could not breathe until EMS rescued
and resuscitated him. He remained in a coma for several weeks in the hospital
until he died of complications.
Summary Case Report: Man had a seizure
and fell ---this may not be occupational, could be from a previous work
injury--unsure-
Summary Case Report: 17-year-old
farm worker was driving a tractor pulling a field cultivator, traveling
north down a gravel road. He approached a railroad crossing that had two
tracks. A freight train heading west was to his left on the first tracks,
with the last car blocking south bound traffic on the road. The victim
continued to drive across the tracks and was hit by an eastbound train
on the other set of tracks, the train being entirely out of sight to him
or anyone traveling north on that road. His tractor was cut in two by
the train, and he died later that day.
Summary Case Report: 65-year-old
farmer was using a narrow-front tractor equipped with a front-end loader.
He was moving dirt to repair a washout on his farm. The man apparently
had a lopsided load of dirt in the bucket, with most of the weight to
the left of the bucket. While maneuvering the tractor down a slight incline,
the tractor rolled over to its left, and the farmer was fatally crushed
underneath. He was found dead by a neighbor.
Summary Case Report: 28-year-old
race car driver was working under his vehicle in the pit at a racetrack,
getting ready for the night's races. Another driver pulled into the pit
area traveling too fast, and crashed into the victim's car, pushing it
10 feet and trapping the victim underneath. Normal speed for the pit area
was 15-20 mph, but the other driver was traveling three times as fast,
witnesses said. The victim was pronounced dead when he arrived at the
hospital.
Summary Case Report: 70-year-old
man was driving a tractor pulling a sprayer when he lost control of the
rig and drove into a ditch.
Summary Case Report: 67-year-old
handyman for some residential property owners was doing plumbing work
to unoccupied buildings. He was working through a 17-inch manhole, trying
to access water spigots at the bottom of the 5-foot deep pipe. Long tools
for reaching the spigots were leaning against the inside of the pipe.
The man apparently fell head first through the opening and died from positional
asphyxia. Full Report with Photos
Summary Case Report: 57-year-old
man was installing a flagpole with another man when it touched an overhead
power line. The the victim was electrocuted, and his co-worker received
serious burns.
Summary Case Report: 43-year-old
forklift operator for an agricultural products company was driving a forklift
when it overturned. The man was backing up the machine when the left rear
tire slipped off a road surface into a culvert, and the machine began
to tip over. The victim attempted to jump, but the machine's cage caught
him and pinned him to the ground, causing internal injuries. The man was
conscious and talking during rescue, but died later that day during surgery
to repair his significant internal injuries.
Summary Case Report: 37-year-old
farmer was working in his farm pasture moving cattle when a tractor, parked
on top of a steep hill, apparently slipped out of gear and rolled down
the hill, running over the man. He was killed instantly. The man's mother
was working nearby and called 911, but the farmer was dead at the scene.
Summary Case Report: 72-year-old
farmer and two other men were unloading corn from a grain bin into a semi-trailer
truck when the auger in the bin malfunctioned. The victim entered the
bin from the top and became caught in the grain. It took 30 minutes to
free the man, but he died later in the hospital from his injuries.
Summary Case Report: 70-year-old
farmer was using a cutting torch to cut up a large empty fuel tank, which
had a circular bottom 11 feet in diameter. Apparently, the heavy cut bottom
fell on the man, and he was found dead underneath the metal, crushed with
multiple internal injuries. The cause of death was compression asphyxia.
Summary Case Report: 15-year-old
youth was driving a tractor down a gravel road, hauling round bales of
cornstalks. The right wheel of the tractor entered the ditch and the machine
rolled over, killing the boy.
Summary Case Report: 31-year-old
truckdriver was hauling cattle in a semi-trailer when he lost control
of his truck. It appears he was traveling too fast on a ramp, and his
truck overturned and rolled down an embankment. The man died from blunt
trauma.
Summary Case Report: 47-year-old
farmer was working under a hay baler hooked to a tractor. He was using
a hammer to remove a pin from the baler, and the front end of the baler
fell on the man's chest.
Summary Case Report: 60-year-old
contractor was working on a roof when he fell 12 feet to the ground, receiving
fatal head injuries.
Summary Case Report: 52-year-old
farmer was driving a tractor down a gravel road pulling a mower / shredder.
The tractor entered the right hand ditch and completely rolled over, killing
the man instantly.
Summary Case Report: 48-year-old
farmer was working on a hydraulically-controlled grain truck box at his
home. The box lowered and pinned him to the frame of the truck, and he
was dead at the scene.
Summary Case Report: 45-year-old
female was part of a work crew hired to demolish a garage. Apparently,
the crew removed all the exterior siding first, which was apparently holding
the building together. The victim was standing in the middle of the 2-car
garage while another crew member was standing on the roof. The entire garage
suddenly collapsed upon the woman, causing multiple blunt injuries.
Summary Case Report: 55-year-old
scrap metal worker was lying under a train engine doing some repairs.
The train engine brakes were not on, and it began to roll, wedging the
victim between the undercarriage of the train and a large, heavy rubber
chuck lying on the tracks. The man received severe head injuries and was
dead at the scene.
Summary Case Report: 48-year-old
farmer was mowing hay in a ditch when his tractor rolled over, pinning
him underneath.
Summary Case Report: 76-year-old
farmer, working with his son and grandson, was baling hay with a pull-behind
square baler. He was driving on a side hill when his tractor overturned,
causing massive crush injuries.
Summary Case Report: 41-year-old
man operating an ATV, was spraying weeds in a ditch when his ATV fell
into a hole. The man lost control of the machine, and it rolled over on
top of him. The man was found dead several hours later.
Summary Case Report: 40-year-old
manager for a grain cooperative had been missing for a few hours. Workers
noticed that grain was not flowing from one bin, and on investigation,
found the man's leg sticking out of the bottom of the grain bin. The man
had suffocated in the flowing grain.
Summary Case Report: 59-year-old
man was using a cutting torch while scrapping a truck. While the truck
body was supported by a jack, the man was sitting on the ground under
the truck cutting on the axle. After cutting through the axle, the truck
body shifted, and the jack slipped out causing the truck body to fall
on the man, crushing him to death.
Summary Case Report: 48-year-old
farmer was driving an ATV on a gravel road. He exited his driveway onto
another road and was immediately hit by a pickup truck. The collision
caused multiple head injuries, and the man died several days later in
the hospital. He was not wearing a helmet.
Summary Case Report: 42-year-old farmhand was working with hogs using a skid steer. With the lift arms raised, and the machine safety switch turned ON, the man was entering the machine from under the lift arms. He stepped inside the cab with his right leg, and his right foot stepped on the left foot pedal for the machine, and the lift arms immediately came down and crushed him against the frame of the machine. The man was found dead by a delivery man 10-20 minutes later. The foot pedals controlled the lift arms and the bucket, while machine movements were controlled by left and right hand controls. Preliminary tests performed by others at the farm showed that the safety switch for the machine was not working properly, as it allowed downward movement of the lift arms.
Summary Case Report: 62-year-old
pilot of a small single-seat, home-built airplane crashed in a farm field.
The pilot operated a small airport nearby, and had an instrument rating
with airplanes much more complex than this small plane. He used the small
plane many times to help local police. A neighbor saw the plane glide
down before the crash, and saw nothing unusual nor suspected any problems.
Medical problems with the pilot have not been ruled out as a factor
in this crash.
Summary Case Report: 39-year-old
farmer was driving a narrow-front tractor on a side hill, pulling a manure
spreader. His tractor wheels lost footing, and the tractor slid down the
hill, then rolled over in a dry creek bed, pinning the farmer to the ground.
The man was conscious, but was not found for over three hours later. He
was taken to a local hospital, then transferred to a regional medical
center, where he died the following day during exploratory surgery. The
tractor did not have a ROPS.
Summary Case Report: 49-year-old
female flagger for a paving crew was killed when she was backed over by
a dump truck at a highway paving construction site. She was knocked down
by the truck and unable to get out of the way. She was killed instantly
from multiple crush injuries.
Summary Case Report: 63-year-old large animal veterinarian was working with cows in a chute when he was attacked by a bull, knocked down, and stepped on by the bull. The man was taken to a local hospital, then transferred to a regional hospital, where he died several days later from his internal injuries.
Summary Case Report: 48-year-old
laborer for a roof repair and maintenance company was working on a roof.
For an unknown reason, the man fell two stories off the roof, landing
on his back on a concrete surface. He suffered massive head injuries and
was dead at the scene.
Summary Case Report: 45-year-old
female truckdriver pulling a semi dump trailer was driving at 6:25 AM
down a 2-lane state highway. She crossed the centerline and crashed head-on
into a van approaching in the other lane. Her truck continued to cross
the other lane, entered a farm field, and then caught on fire. Both drivers
were killed in this collision.
Summary Case Report: 45-year-old
construction worker was working in front of a building using a hydraulic
lift (cherry picker). From police report, the machine apparently malfunctioned,
causing the man to fall 15 feet, where he suffered head injuries and multiple
rib fractures. The man was transferred to a regional hospital, where he
died a few hours later.
Summary Case Report: A 45-year-old male who went to make adjustments at the rear of a combine, was backed over by it when the operator moved the combine into reverse.
Summary Case Report: 42-year-old
worker at a feed company (not sure of man's occupation) was assisting
unloading a grain truck into a grain bin when the adjacent grain bin ruptured,
pinning the man against the truck he was unloading. The man was dead at
the scene.
Summary Case Report: 72-year-old
farmer was driving a tractor down a 2-lane state highway when he turned
left into his farm driveway. He was immediately hit broadside by a semi-truck
that was passing him. Both vehicles left the highway and entered a ditch.
The farmer received multiple injuries and was killed instantly.
Summary Case Report: 62-year-old pilot of a chartered 2-engine airplane was flying a single passenger on a short business trip. He had just left the airport when he experienced engine trouble. He radioed the airport, then turned around to fly back, but lost altitude and crashed in a farm field. Both the pilot and the passenger were killed instantly upon impact.
Summary Case Report: 56-year-old
employee for a design and engineering company was a passenger in a twin-engine
chartered airplane that experienced engine trouble and crashed in a farm
field (see case 5IA73).
Summary Case Report: 35-year-old
farmer was working alone using a tractor equipped with a PTO-driven post
hole digger. The man was found dead approximately 30 feet from the tractor,
with his severed right arm lying next to the post hole digger. The tractor
and post hole digger were still operating when he was found. The farmer
apparently became entangled in the machine by his clothing, and was killed
instantly from multiple injuries. Full report with photos
Summary Case Report: 70-year-old
farmer was using his tractor (front-end loader?) to move dirt in a cattle
feed yard when his tractor rolled over and pinned him to the ground. The
man was killed instantly from severe head injuries.
Summary Case Report: 41-year-old
worker at a pork processing plant was working under a conveyor system
when a rail on the overhead conveyor broke and fell on him. The event
was witnessed by another employee, yet the man was trapped under the rail
for 40 minutes before fire fighters managed to raise the rail and pull
him out. The man was dead at the scene from compressional asphyxia.
Summary Case Report: 74-year-old
welder, working on contract for a garbage hauler, was using a plasma cutter
to remove a steel section of a 30-yard roll off container that was being
prepared for use as a garbage container. The man was working inside the
container cutting out a section of the steel roof, when the cut section
swung down and hit the man in the head, knocking him to the floor of the
container. He received a cervical fracture and spinal cord injury, then
apparently had a heart attack while lying on the floor. His cause of death
was from his heart attack, yet the manner of his death was accidental.
Summary Case Report: 45-year-old
farmer was driving a pickup truck pulling a livestock trailer (with six
head of cattle) down a gravel road. He approached a railroad crossing
and was unable to stop in time to avoid a train coming from his left.
The pickup truck was struck on the driver's side, and was pushed 200-300
feet down the tracks. The farmer was killed instantly, and two other passengers
in his truck were taken to the hospital with unspecified injuries.
Summary Case Report: 65-year-old
farmer was helping his sons sort cattle and load them into a truck. One
animal pushed the farmer against the side of the truck, and he received
blunt injuries to his chest, and died at the scene.
Summary Case Report: 44-year-old
female was working as a counselor's aide for an alcohol and drug dependency
center. She was working alone on a work shift from midnight to 8 AM, when
she was attacked and strangled to death by someone trying to steal prescription
medications from the facility. She was found dead lying on the floor of
the medication storage room. A 19-year-old resident of the facility was
discovered missing, and he was found and arrested at a local grocery store,
where he was in possession of pills, the victim's car and keys.
Summary Case Report: 32-year-old
mechanic for a paper converting company was working under a 2-ton forklift
that was raised with a hydraulic jack and wooden cribbing. Either the
cribbing or the jack failed, and the man was crushed underneath. He
died instantly from massive head injuries.
Summary Case Report: 34-year-old
brakeman for a freight railroad company was working with another man guiding
a train into position, preparing to unload coal at a power company location.
The victim was riding on the front outside ladder of the first train car.
His co-worker radioed to him to get off and walk because they were approaching
a metal water tower that was adjacent to the train. The steal tower had
a vertical beam section which was approximately 12 inches from the side
of the train, not enough room for a man to safety pass between. Five minutes
after the first train car had passed the beam, the co-worker discovered
that something was wrong. He found the victim on the ground next to the
beam, with injuries from being pinched between the train and the beam.
The brakeman died at the scene.
Summary Case Report: 55-year-old
woman was helping her husband with farm chores. The farmer was driving
a skid-steer loader, with a large round bale of hay on the front. It was
dark, and the man did not see his wife in front of him. She was run over
by the skid-steer loader and died instantly from massive head trauma.
Summary Case Report: 42-year-old
truckdriver fell off his flat-bed trailer and suffered fatal head injuries.
Summary Case Report: 64-year-old
truck mechanic was working for a truck dealership, repairing frozen brakes
on the truck. While under the truck, he apparently freed the brakes, and
the truck began to roll. The man's clothing became caught in the driveshaft
for the truck.
Summary Case Report: 53-year-old
boiler operator for a soybean processing plant was injured when a steam
pump ruptured in the boiler room. Mechanical failure of the pump is suspected.
The man had worked for this company for the past 30 years.
Summary Case Report: 77-year-old
cab driver was murdered by two of his customers after he delivered them
to a casino. The driver was stabbed in the neck during a robbery attempt
in the cab. The two passengers then went and bought some gasoline, returned
and set the cab on fire, apparently to hide evidence.
Summary Case Report: 46-year-old
woman, walking to work in the parking lot of a home improvement store,
was hit from behind, apparently by a pickup truck. She lay on the pavement
for approximately 40 minutes before being discovered, and was later determined
to be dead at the scene. It was foggy that morning, and the parking lot
was icy. The owner of the truck identified in this case denies any wrongdoing,
or even being in the parking lot at that time.
Summary Case Report: 43-year-old
worker at a corn processing plant was working on top of a railcar to clean
the top and remove ice. He apparently slipped on the ice and fell to the
ground, suffering massive head injuries.
Summary Case Report: 33-year-old truck mechanic was working under a straight truck, removing the rear axle. He was working alone when the axle apparently fell on him, pinning him to the floor. He was crushed by the axle and was declared dead when taken to the hospital.
Summary Case Report: A 46-year-old operator was crushed against a pick-up truck when his tractor moved rearward while he was out of the operator's station.
Summary Case Report: A 37-year-old man suffered a shotgun wound under his chin in a hog buying facility restroom.
Summary Case Report: A 48-year-old owner-operator was electrocuted while guiding a metal flag pole into place when it contacted overhead electric lines.
Summary Case Report: The right side driver's position was crushed when struck by a pickup truck after the 65-year-old mail carrier ran a stop sign.
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