FALLS ARE THE LEADING CAUSE OF WORKER DEATHS: CONSTRUCTION WORKER DIES AFTER FALLING FOUR STORIES IN MANATEE COUNTY, FLORIDA

APRIL 4, 2015

MANATEE COUNTY, FLORIDA

A construction worker is dead after taking a fall from the fourth floor of a building.

It happened Friday evening at 9085 Town Center Parkway in Bradenton – that's an assisted living facility that's currently being built.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office says 45-year-old Emerterio Moreno Ramirez was working on the fourth floor, and it appears that he accidentally fell to the ground floor.

Ramirez was pronounced dead at the scene.

OSHA will conduct an investigation as this accident involves a fatality.  They will be looking into whether the worker had the proper fall protection and training and whether the proper safeguards had been implemented by the contractor.

Source: http://www.mysuncoast.com

2 ROOF WORKERS INJURED WHEN HOUSE EXPLODES DUE TO NATURAL GAS IN FIRESTONE, COLORADO

APRIL 5, 2015

FIRESTONE, COLORADO (AP)

Two roof workers were injured when the second floor of a house in Firestone exploded while they were working.

Authorities say the explosion on Saturday blew out the windows of the second story of the home.

Both workers were taken to a local hospital for treatment. The extent of their injuries was not available.

The homeowner was in the basement at the time of the explosion and was uninjured.

Authorities say the explosion may have been caused by natural gas.

TRUCK BRAKES, INCLUDING THE LOAD OF SHOES, CATCH FIRE ON I-44 NEAR ROLLA, MISSOURI

APRIL 5, 2015

ROLLA, MO (KTVI)

A footwear fire created a big back up on I-44 Sunday morning. Here are some pictures a driver took of tennis shoes in the truck that caught fire.

The truck was having brake problems and caught fire on I-44 near Rolla. The fire burned particularly hot because of the shoes.

The fire and smoke stopped traffic on the eastbound side of the interstate.

1 INJURED AFTER AAA TOW TRUCK AND PICKUP TRUCK COLLIDE NEAR PENN HILLS CEMETERY IN PENNSYLVANIA

APRIL 5, 2015

PENN HILLS, PENNSYLVANIA

One person was taken to an area hospital after a two-vehicle accident in Penn Hills Saturday night, Channel 11 has confirmed.

The accident, which involved a AAA tow truck and a pickup truck, occurred about 7 p.m. on Frankstown Road, near Mount Hope Cemetery.
Both vehicles were badly damaged in the crash. The tow truck overturned and the pickup truck has since been towed from the scene.
Police said the driver of the AAA truck climbed out of his vehicle after the accident to assist the other driver, who was transported to the hospital.
The man’s name and the extent of his injuries aren’t currently known, although police said he was alert and conscious at the scene.
One witness from the scene said he thinks speed might have played a role in the crash.
“This curve is dangerous and people fly up and down here all of the time,” said Kevin Stumpf. “I’ve never seen anything like this and I have lived here all of my life.”
Frankstown Road remained closed for several hours after the accident but has since reopened.

Source: http://www.wpxi.com

1 DEAD AFTER JET SKIER LOST POWER AND SLAMMED ONTO A WATER TUBE AT BANANA BEND BEACH IN HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS

APRIL 5, 2015

HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS

A 21-year-old man has drowned after being involved in a Jet Ski accident in northeast Harris County Sunday morning.

The accident happened around 11:30 a.m. as a large group of family and friends gathered on Banana Bend Beach.

At the time, two people were on a Jet Ski pulling two others on a tube.

Another friend on his own jet ski tried to catch up to them and somehow the watercraft stalled or turned off, said Capt. Don Stanton with the Harris County Sheriff's Office Marine Division.

Without power, he no longer had control of the steering but didn't realize until it was too late, Stanton said.

The man tried to avoiding hitting his friends on the tube, but couldn't and hit them straight on.

One of the friends came up from the water right away without injury, but the other, a 21-year-old Hispanic male, slipped out of his life jacket and drowned.

His body was recovered by the Harris County Marine and Boat Rescue.

Authorities are investigating if the man driving the jet ski was drinking. 

 Currently, no charges have been filed against the driver.