SAVANNA, Okla. (AP) — The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says a Delaware man was killed when his tractor-trailer rig rolled over him after he freed frozen brakes on the rig.
Troopers say 53-year-old Michael Gardner of Milford, Del., died in the accident Sunday outside a motel in Savanna in eastern Oklahoma.
Investigators say a brake on Gardner's rig froze in subfreezing temperatures and that he crawled under the trailer to free the tire. Troopers say Gardner apparently failed to set the brakes and when he freed the tire the trailer of the rig rolled over him and dragged him nearly 70 feet.
Morning lows in the region were reported at 27 degrees and the temperature at the time of the accident it was about 29 degrees.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.