Two men have died in the last week as a result of tractor accidents, one from Lapeer County and the other from Alcona County.
In both instances the tractors they were riding on rolled and pinned the victims.
Raymond Doughty of Otisville, was trying to pull a pickup truck from a muddy field May 19 in 5000 block of Wilson Road (near Catlin) in Marathon Township with his tractor, according to the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Department.
Doughty, 77, lived in the area and was contacted by the truck owner He agreed to assist with his farm utility tractor, described as a midsize (40 to 60 hp) vintage Farmall tractor. He connected to the front of the pickup with a chain and attempted to pull the vehicle forward, according to the Sheriff’s Department. As the tractor, which was not equipped with a roll bar, moved forward, it rolled over backward, pinning Doughty beneath.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
On May 21, a man from Mikado (Alcona County) ran the tractor he was driving off the road, rolling it and pinning him underneath, according to the Michigan State Police.
It happened at 1:30 p.m. on East Wissmiller Road near Coville Road. Troopers say the man died from the crash, but are not yet releasing his name. It is still under investigation, but alcohol is not believed to be a factor, according to the State Police.
Source: www.michiganfarmer.com