2001 Fatality Summaries
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA00101 02/06/2001 9621 821 8100 county road worker Summary Case Report: 51 year old worker for a county road department was operating a road grader, removing snow from around a railroad crossing. While backing his grader along the side of a snowback and onto the railroad tracks, he was struck by a freight train. Apparently the snowback blocked his view of the oncoming train. He received severe head injuries and died a few hours later. The railroad croosing was on an uncontrolled gravel road. No other obstructions were present except for the snowback. The man had been operating a grader for several years.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA00201 01/18/2001 7549 821 8120 towman Summary Case Report: 59 year old tow truck operator was connecting his tow truck to a disabled propane truck at a private residence. While working between the vehicles, the propane truck slid forward on the icy surface and crushed the man against the stinger of his tow truck causing fatal internal injuries. The man died an hour later.
(Full Report Available)
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA00301 03/08/2001 5153 561 912 grain supervisor Summary Case Report: 48 year old supervisor of a small town grain elevator was found dead in a grain bin filled with corn screenings. One arm was sticking up through the grain. Grain was not moving in or out of the bin at the time, and there was no entanglement in any machinery. There is no known reason why he would enter that bin, for he did not have his radio, did not use his harness, or tell anyone where he was going. He must have slipped or fell into the 60 foot tall bin, but there is no evidence of why he would even entered the bin.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA00401 02/01/2001 0191 551 9190 farmer Summary Case Report: 69 year old farmer went out in the morning to move snow using an old skid-steer loader. The machine did not have a cage or other means to protect the operator. The man was found pinned between the left arm to the bucket and the frame of the machine. The farmer evidently had leaned to the left reaching for something and accidentally tripped the hydraulic lever to lower the bucket. He was dead at the scene.
(Full Report Available)
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA00501 01/26/2001 0212 551 9190 cattle farmer Summary Case Report: 64 year old cattle farmer was checking a grain mill while it was operating at his farm. Apparently he slipped while walking past the machine and fell, the hood on his sweatshirt getting caught in the universal joint on the input power shaft. The machine caused cervical fractures, then jammed causing corn to pile up over the man.
(Full Report Available)
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA00601 03/22/2001 0191 551 9190 farmer Summary Case Report: 52 year old farmer was unloading corn from a grain bin using a PTO driven bottom unloader attached to his tractor. He apparently stepped over the PTO shaft, slipped on some ice, and was caught by his arm on a square section of the shaft close to one end of the shaft. The man became instantly entangled and killed by the spinning PTO. The tractor was still running when the man was found by his wife.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA00701 03/04/2001 3691 821 823 truckdriver Summary Case Report: 55 year old semi truck driver for a battery manufacturing company had just hooked up his tractor to a trailer at a company dock site. The trailer brakes were not engaged to allow the pressure to build up quicker. The man was found dead crushed between the semi-trailer and the loading dock.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA00801 03/22/2001 8711 164 8120 surveyor Summary Case Report: 46 year old surveyor working for an engineering firm was sitting in his survey truck on the shoulder of I-80. His truck was hit in the rear from another semi-tractor pulling a mobile home. The impact sent the survey truck rolling over down an embankment. The driver was killed instantly. Another employee in the passenger seat received minor injuries.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA00901 03/26/2001 1521 876 8809 construction worker Summary Case Report: 50 year old construction worker was working for a company that specializes in cleaning up construction sites. He had just reported for work at a construction site and was removing drywall scrap from a basement. He apparently slipped on muddy steps and fell down the steps to the basement and hit his head on the concrete floor, receiving fatal head injuries. A blood alcohol level was 394 mg/dl.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA01001 01/13/2001 5812 521 9170 pizza deliveryman Summary Case Report: 19 year old worker at a pizza restaurant got into an argument with another employee at the restaurant in the early morning hours. The victim was not working at the time. The argument was about a girlfriend. They came to agreement but the other employee requested as part of the deal for the victim to "take a punch". Apparently the two men had boxed before and settled disagreements by "taking a punch". This time the friend punched the victim once in the mid-chest region, and he immediately fell to the floor and had "seizure-like" activity. The punch caused the man's heart to go into arrhythmia and he died.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA01101 03/20/2001 4953 872 825 garbage collection helper Summary Case Report: 19 year old man was helping a relative collect garbage with a new garbage truck. There were two collectors and one truck driver. The man was not employed by the garbage company, and it was against all rules for the man to ride along and help collect garbage. Once while backing up during collection, the victim tried to step on the kicker bar and fell between the bar and the truck, striking his head as he fell. The man was apparently unconscious when the truck backed over him, the dual tires crushing the man's chest.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA01201 01/15/2001 5813 135 966 tavern manager Summary Case Report: 54 year old female manager of a tavern was stabbed to death during a robbery at the tavern. Two men are in custody pending trial for first-degree murder. The men did not know the victim, who had been working at the tavern only four months.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA01301 04/17/2001 0191 551 9190 farmer Summary Case Report: 62 year old farmer had just finished spreading dry fertilizer in a field using a tractor pulling a broadcast spreader. The field drive was on top of a hill, so when the farmer pulled out he was going downhill. He turned too far to the side of the road and the right wheel dropped into the ditch. The weight of the spreader, and the downhill momentum pushed the tractor into the ditch and it rolled over 2-3 times. The man's head was crushed during the rollover. The tractor did not have a cab or ROPS.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA01401 04/10/2001 1761 646 908 sheet metal roofer Summary Case Report: 36 year old sheet metal roofer was one of two men installing a roof for a meat packing plant. While on lunch break the men noticed a storm approaching, and they went on the roof to retrieve tools they had been using. They then noticed some metal decking that was not secured, and while trying to secure the panels, a strong gust of wind came up and lifted up the panel the men were standing on. The men were blown off the roof with the panel and landed on the dirt surface 35 feet below. The victim suffered fatal head injuries.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA01501 04/10/2001 783 573 9192 tree trimmer Summary Case Report: 46 year old man was working as a tree trimmer for a small tree trimming service. He was in the bucket of a cherry picker 45-50 feet up trimming branches. Suddenly the hydraulic arm on the machine apparently failed, and it "bent in two" causing the bucket to fall rapidly towards the ground. The man fell out of the bucket 10 feet above the ground and landed on a concrete surface. He suffered multiple fractures, and died instantly from a ruptured aorta.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA01601 05/12/2001 2024 614 8699 maintenance man Summary Case Report: 37 year old maintenance man at an ice cream manufacturing plant was evidently working on machinery that used anhydrous ammonia as a coolant. While working on a valve, he was shot in the face with anhydrous ammonia, and inhaled some of it. He reported the indcident to a supervisor, but did not seek medical attention. Two days later he developed progressive shortness of breath and presented to the hospital in major respiratory distress. Despite aggressive treatment, he rapidly went down hill and died the next day from pulmonary complications and pneumonia.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA01701 06/07/2001 0291 551 8210 cattle farmer Summary Case Report: 82 year old cattle farmer was working alone moving corn from a silo on his farm. The floor auger became clogged with clumps of corn and the man entered the silo to break up these lumps. While inside, loose corn stuck to the walls of the silo became dislodged and fell on the man, burying him and suffocating him to death. He was found dead three hours later by family members.
(Full Report Available)
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA01801 05/01/2001 0191 551 9190 farmer Summary Case Report: 71 year old farmer was removing medium sized trees from a fenceline near an intersection. He was using a tractor with a chain to pull the tres over into the ditch next to the fenceline. He would connect a chain around the tree to the drawbar, then fell the tree so it falls in the ditch, then pull the tree up out of the ditch. On one tree, it was apparently too large, and although the front wheels were on the road, the rear tires were still in the ditch. The tractor rolled over backwards, instantly killing the farmer. The tractor did not have a ROPS.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA01901 03/28/2001 0191 551 9190 farmer Summary Case Report: 47 year old farmer was using a small tractor to spread chemical fertilizer on a field adjacent to a steep hill. He got too close to the wet, grassy hill, and his rear wheels began to spin out causing the tractor to slide backwards down the hill. At the bottom the tractor hit a tree and rolled over, crushing the farmer underneath. He was found dead a few hours later by men working in the area who noticed the overturned tractor.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA02001 06/27/2001 9532 646 8147 street worker Summary Case Report: 52 year old worker for a small city was one of three men doing sidewalk work at a typical 4-way stop city intersection. Their workzone had a few folding barricades in the street, but the intersection was fully open. A girl pulled up to the corner in a car and stopped. Then a boy chasing her in his car came speeding down the street behind her. He slammed on his brakes, entered the intersection, and crashed through the workzone, hitting and killing one city worker.
(Full Report Available)
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA02101 8/23/2001 4789 611 8699 railroad worker Summary Case Report: 49 year old worker for a company that renovates railcars had entered an empty tanker car that had been filled with vegetable oil. The car had been routinely purged with nitrogen to displace any oxygen present. The man was found collapsed by another employee, who jumped in to save him. The second man also collapsed, and both men died from suffocation. Both men had years of experience with this company.
(Full Report Available)
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA02201 9/19/2001 5153 562 9139 grain coop employee Summary Case Report: 41 year old worker at a grain cooperative was working with another man to clean a cement silo that was filled with corn. He apparently fell into the moving corn and was engulfed before the co-worker could do anything.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA02301 7/20/2001 6531 135 9682 realtor Summary Case Report: 76 year old realtor was murdered in his real estate office by a man who lived in the same apartment building. He was gagged, strangled, and beaten to death. The culprits stole his credit cards and were later seen on camera at a local mall making several purchases.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA02401 7/9/2001 1761 646 9258 roofer Summary Case Report: 23 year old worker for a roofing company was positioning an aluminum ladder at a residential worksite. The ladder contacted overhead electrical powerlines, and the man was electrocuted.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA02501 8/2/2001 4212 821 8147 private mover Summary Case Report: 38 year old mover was helping to unload his company truck on a residential street when he was struck by a car and pinned between the car and his truck. The men were unloading from the side of the truck, but the victim had just opened the rear door to increase ventilation. A female driver was not paying attention, and struck the man breaking both of his legs. The man was rushed to a local hospital, but died from his open fractures and significant bleeding.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA02601 5/29/2001 5191 821 8160 truckdriver Summary Case Report: 42 year old truckdriver for a feed company was driving his semi with a load of soybean meal. He was traveling on a county highway, a trip he makes on a daily basis. He approached a curve too fast and his truck rolled over in the ditch. The truck plowed forward upside down, filling the cab area with dirt as it came through the front window. The driver was found hanging from his seatbelt with dirt packed around him.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA02701 9/26/2001 4213 821 8160 truckdriver Summary Case Report: 45 year old truckdriver was driving on an interstate highway and lost control of his truck on a right hand exit. Truck rolled onto the drivers side and the driver was pinned in his cab. He was initially alert, but emergency crews could not free him, nor relieve pressure on his chest from steering wheel. They could not aid his airway and he died at the scene.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA02801 6/20/2001 1521 646 8227 construction worker Summary Case Report: 38 year old construction worker (3 years experience) was helping to unload concrete forms for a residential home project. The forms were transported on a heavy dual-axle semi-trailer. After workers had removed the forms,the victim stepped between the dual tires on the passenger side of the truck to retrieve form clips on the trailer. The driver of the truck did not see the victim and drove off, the wheels catching him on the legs and drawing him under the tires. The man died from head injuries.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA02901 7/18/2001 5093 785 9239 salvage worker Summary Case Report: 70 year old salvage worker was using a blow torch to cut apart an old fuel tank at a farm location. The tank had not been used for several years. The tank exploded and caught the mans clothes on fire. He received significant burn injuries and died the next day in the hospital.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA03001 6/8/2001 0191 551 9190 farmer Summary Case Report: 53 year old farmer was parting out an old cab-over semi tractor that a friend had given to him, planning to make it into a trailer for use on the farm. The hydraulics that lift the cab were inoperable, and the cylinder had been disconnected at the cab end. The cab was raised manually and was sitting on the hydraulic cylinder. While working alone under the cab, the cylinder slipped, and the cab came down pinning the man to the frame of the cab. He died immediately from asphyxiation.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA03101 7/17/2001 1522 642 9000 carpenter Summary Case Report: 38 year old carpenter was working with a crew to build a motel. It was a very hot and humid day. While working he became overheated and became increasingly uncomfortable even with rest. He began vomiting and lost consciousness, was taken to a local hospital, but had a temperature of 109 degrees. He died shortly after in the ER. He had a history of heavy alcohol use and uncontrolled blood pressure.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA03201 6/25/2001 0191 551 9190 farmer Summary Case Report: 80 year old farmer was driving a narrow-front tractor down a gravel road, pulling a no-till drill, which he got from the county conservation district. He was planning to seed down an area with prairie grass. He was traveling too fast on the road and the drill began to sway, causing him to lose control of the tractor, which swerved to the right-hand ditch and rolled over. The man was pinned underneath. He was taken to a hospital, but died a few days later of his injuries.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA03301 9/28/2001 0191 551 9190 farmer Summary Case Report: 27 year old farmer was driving an old narrow-front tractor with a front-end loader, moving large bales of hay in a pasture. He was working on a slight slope, and rolled the tractor over, getting pinned and crushed underneath. The front end was raised with a bale while the man was turning around. The tractor (of course) did not have a ROPS.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA03401 10/1/2001 1799 647 9197 construction worker Summary Case Report: 23 year old construction worker for a fencing company was working on a DOT project, replacing a guardrail along an exit off of Interstate 80. He was kneeling down along the side of the roadway, marking posts for a new bridge guardrail. A co-worker approached driving a skid-steer loader with forklift attachment, carrying a load of guardrail. The load began to tip to the right, struck the victim in the shoulder, knocking him down. Then the load of guardrail fell and pinned the victim's head against the wooden posts, causing fatal head injuries.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA03501 10/23/2001 4522 825 8402 commercial pilot Summary Case Report: 52 year old pilot for a commercial passenger and cargo company was flying a twin-engine airplane from Chicago to Dubuque. The plane crashed on a gravel road in heavy fog a few miles from the airport. The plane was empty of any cargo. Investigation failed to find any mechanical reasons for the crash and the man was in good health. He had six years of flying experience with this company and was also a flight instructor. He was flying under IFR rules at the time of the accident.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA03601 09/28/2001 0241 561 8810 dairy farmer Summary Case Report: 31 year old worker for a dairy farm was climbing a cement silo to check how full it was. The victim and others were filling the silo with cracked corn. Apparently the victim slipped off a step and fell within the ladder chute of the silo. He was found 10 minutes later on the ground. He was initially responsive, but soon died from internal injuries.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA03701 10/17/2001 1629 626 916 construction worker Summary Case Report: 40 year old construction worker was one of five men working to free a semi-trailer stuck in the mud at a quarry worksite. The trailer (contained explosives) was resting on its dolley, which was sitting on 12" by 12" timbers stuck in the mud. The victim was under the front end of the trailer, working with a chain attached to a front-end loader, trying re-position the cribbing. Suddenly, one cribbing timber snapped and the trailer started to slowly sink on one side. The foreman shouted for workers to run, and the victim started his escape. Unfortunately, he chose the wrong direction, and was pinned to the ground by the trailer as one corner came to rest on the ground. Other workers were not injured.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA03801 08/04/2001 0191 551 9190 farmer Summary Case Report: 60 year old hobby farmer was using a borrowed skid-steer loader to smooth out an area of ground for a foundation for a barn. He attached four 100-lb. tractor counterweights to the rear of the loader with a log chain. Once when he had the large front bucket full of dirt, the weights fell off, and the jolt threw the man and his seat forward out of the machine. The raised bucket immediately fell and crushed him against the frame. He was not found for several hours.
(Full Report Available)
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA03901 2/22/2001 4213 821 8160 truckdriver Summary Case Report: 63 year old truckdriver was driving his tractor-trailer rig on an interstate highway in the early morning hours. The truck left the roadway and rolled, the driver suffering blunt force injuries to the chest. He was wearing a seat belt. He died later that same day.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA04001 10/31/2001 4213 821 8120 truckdriver Summary Case Report: 48 year old truckdriver was operating a semi-trailer on an interstate when he crashed at full highway speed into the rear of another semi-turck which had recently entered the roadway from a rest area. The truck veered to its left, entered the median, and burst into flames, killing the driver. The other truck was traveling approximately 40 MPH.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA04101 11/12/2001 5963 804 8120 truckdriver Summary Case Report: 39 year old female truckdriver working for a food company was hauling a load of food on her normal night route, pulling a reefer trailer. She came around a curve on an interstate highway as it passed through a larger city, and slammed into the rear of another semi which was almost stopped on the roadway, moving slowly to see if it could pass under an overpass. She was killed instantly. The truck in front was carrying new tractors on a flatbed, and the driver was concerned that the exhaust stacks from the tractors would hit the overpass. Also, a portion of the tractor extended over the rear edge of the trailer and blocked some of the truck's lighting. The victim had 2 years experience with this company and was an excellent driver.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA04201 12/01/2001 721 561 9190 tree excavator Summary Case Report: 25 year old tree excavator was using a new skid-steer loader to clear cedar trees in a ditch for a farmer. He had a tree-cutting attachment on the front of the loader, with pinchers and cutting capability. While working, he was cutting a tree which was too big for the pinchers, so he cut it high about 3-4 foot off the ground. He was on a steep slope, facing downhill, and when the tree was cut, it fell to the side causing his loader to tip forward, downhill. The loader tilted forward and partially overturned in the ditch. Unfortunately, it landed on top of the stump he had just cut, which fit between the sides of the ROPS cage, pinning the operator to the seat, with the weight of the loader on his back. The seat actuated safety was operational and would not allow rescuers to start the machine when they arrived.
(Full Report Available)
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA04301 12/18/2001 0191 551 8120 farmer Summary Case Report: 57 year old farmer was driving his tractor down a 2-lane state highway, pulling a grain mixer. He had no lights on the rear of the mixer, and was struck from behind by a van, which caused the mixer to become detached. The tractor was pushed into the ditch where it rolled over, crushing the farmer.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA04401 10/31/2001 2911 804 8120 truckdriver Summary Case Report: 45 year old truckdriver was driving a semi-trailer tanker carrying load of gasoline when he crashed into the rear of a Jeep on an interstate, late at night. The truck veered into the median, rolled over, and burst into flames. The driver was trapped in the cab and died from the fire. The other driver escaped with minor injuries.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA04501 7/27/2001 0191 473 8120 farmer Summary Case Report: 69 year old farmer was driving an all-terrain vehicle down a rural county road when he entered an intersection without stopping, and crashed into the side of a pickup truck. The man suffered multiple injuries, and had a heart attack while in the emergency room receiving treatment.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA04601 12/27/2001 754 611 8120 car detailer Summary Case Report: 32 year old car detailer had just picked up a car driving it back to the car dealer where he worked. He was on an interstate when a vehicle pulled into his lane forcing him to enter the median. His car became airbourne, and the driver was ejected because he was not wearing a seatbelt. He was dead at the scene.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA04701 11/29/2001 7538 611 9232 auto mechanic Summary Case Report: 61 year old owner of an auto repair shop was working on a gas tank which had recently been removed from a car. The owner of the car was helping him. Fumes from the tank evidently traveled to a water heater, causing an explosion, which consumed the shop in fire. The back door of the shop had been permanently closed due to vandalism, and there was no escape. Both men died from severe burns.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA04801 12/01/2001 4213 821 8161 truckdriver Summary Case Report: 36 year old truckdriver was riding a semi truck with a partner from his company. The victim was sleeping in the sleeper compartment, while his friend was driving. The driver took an exit too fast, being blinded by oncoming car lights, and rolled off the shoulder of the exit, the truck rolling on its side. The victim was ejected and crushed under the truck.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA04901 10/09/2001 1731 643 882 tower worker Summary Case Report: 25 year old tower specialist was working constructing a new tower for a communications company. He was working at 140 feet when he fell to the ground, apparently while changing his position on the tower. He was wearing a harness, but no lifelines were attached.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA05001 9/30/2001 0191 551 9160 farmer Summary Case Report: 73 year old farmer was dissassembling a farm wagon at his farm, when the reach (tongue) of the wagon fell on his chest. The man died an hour later from blunt chest trauma.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA05101 5/14/2001 2411 573 9190 logger Summary Case Report: 58 year old self-employed logger was working on private property removing trees. He was using a logging skidder, which apparently overturned on him, crushing his pelvis and causing extensive internal injury. He was taken to local hospital, then transferred to a regional hospital. He died on the way due to internal bleeding complicated by a previous heart condition.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA05201 10/30/2001 8052 523 8100 nurses aide Summary Case Report: 67 year old aide for a nursing home was on an errand in an automobile driving north when she drove into the path of a train heading west. She evidently did not stop at the stop sign before the tracks. She died instantly from head injuries.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA05301 4/16/2001 1741 641 8811 bricklayer Summary Case Report: 69 year old brick layer was on a scaffold doing tuckpointing for an old church building. For an unknown reason he fell 10 feet off the scaffold onto the ground and landed on his head and shoulder. He died from head injuries.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA05401 3/18/2001 0191 551 8810 farmer Summary Case Report: 75 year old farmer was found dead next to a silo ladder on his farm, and had evidently fallen from the ladder. The event was unwitnessed, sometime in the afternoon. He died from blunt trauma to the head.
FACE ID: Date SIC SOC E Code: Occupation 01IA05501 5/01/2001 1611 647 8101 construction worker Summary Case Report: 23 year old construction worker was a passenger in a pickup truck traveling on a 2-lane county road. The driver, traveling at h