Employees Injured on Job in Separate Accidents

Henderson, NC (WorkersCompensaiton.com) – A North Carolina Walmart worker was killed in a workplace accident on Wednesday, one of a number of one the job injuries this past week across the country.

Vance County Sheriff’s Office deputies said a Walmart employee was killed in an industrial accident at the Walmart Distribution Center on Vanco Mill Road. Deputies said Josue David Virella Rivera of Henderson, was operating a mechanical tow motor to move product when the accident. Officials said he died at the scene.

Officials are investigating the accident and said there no witnesses to the accident had been identified.

Walmart said shared its condolences after the incident.

"The Walmart family is heartbroken over the passing of one of our associates. Our thoughts and prayers are with the associate's family during this difficult time. We'll continue working closely with authorities during the investigation,” the company said in a statement.

In Chicago, one construction worker died, and another was injured when they were electrocuted at a work site.

On Tuesday, in the North Lawndale neighborhood, police said two men, ages 26 and 33, were working at the construction site around 8:30 a.m., when the lift they were in made contact with an electrical line. The electrocution killed the 33-year-old-man and injured the other.

The deceased worker was identified as 33-year-old Francisco Javier Ruiz-Reyes of Harvey, Ill., by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Officer. His death was ruled as an accident due to "electrocution, aerial lift contacting electrical wires.”

One woman said the scene unfolded outside of their house.

“I heard my brother hollering out, ‘Call for help, call for help,'” Tonya Simmons-Spruill told WGN. Her brother witnessed the incident and ran to get help.

“To watch my brother run through the house crying saying there was two guys stuck on the lift, and it was on fire, it was a hurtful feeling,” Simmons said. “We come outside and to see the lift on fire, there’s nothing you can do, electric running everywhere, the current going all through the fences.”

Firefighters were eventually able to put out the fire and reach the workers through a door in the building near the workers.

“It was one guy still moving around up there. He was standing still, and I think that’s what saved his life,” said Simmons.

The younger man was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital for observation and was listed in good condition, officials said.

Utility workers arrived on the scene to secure the line and remained there throughout the day, ComEd spokesperson Tom Dominguez said.

“Right now, the investigation is just beginning, so we don’t have a lot of details. We know it was not a ComEd crew involved in this,” Dominguez said.

The two men worked for a construction company working on a housing development project on West Ogden Avenue, officials told WGN News.

Employees with Chicago, OSHA and ComEd were on the scene on Tuesday, and continue to investigate the incident, in addition to Chicago fire and Chicago police departments.

"On behalf of Grace Manor Apartments, I'd like to express my deep concern and condolences for the families of the two young men involved in this tragic accident,” a spokesperson for Grace Manor Apartments said in a statement. “At this time there is an ongoing investigation into this matter of which I have no further information. Again, our prayers are with the families of these young men."

In Chattanooga, an incline railway worker had to be rescued after falling while doing repairs on the line.

According to the Chattanooga Fire Department, crews were called to rescue the work just after 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 26. Rescue workers scattered to different points on the incline line to perform the rescue when they learned the worker was injured. Firefighters and rope technicians lifted the work up 60 feet using a rope system.

"Then they have to get him over the tracks and into a cart on a pulley system and get him up the incline where paramedics are waiting,” the department said in a Facebook post.

In the post, the department said by 4:20 in the afternoon the victim had been rescued and transported to the hospital by Hamilton County EMS for evaluation and treatment. No information was given on his injuries.

Crews have been working on the Incline Railway since the Lookout Mountain fire in December 2024. Officials said crews are working to restore the local landmark so that it can reopen this summer.

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