A 41-year-old man tragically died in Jackson, Mississippi, on Monday, November 4, after being buried under hot asphalt while repairing a dump truck.
According to the Jackson Police Department, the incident occurred when the man was working on a hydraulic line beneath the truck. Suddenly, the tailgate opened, causing a load of asphalt to pour onto him.
Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade reported that authorities were alerted to the accident around 10:30 a.m. Upon arrival, they found the victim, a private contractor, trapped under the hot asphalt.
“It appears there was some kind of malfunction with the dump truck,” Wade explained. “As the man attempted to fix the issue, the truck unexpectedly unloaded its asphalt load onto him.”
Despite the efforts of bystanders who tried to assist, the injuries were too severe, and the man did not survive. Chief Wade described the scene as a “horrific situation,” expressing his condolences to the victim’s family. “I spoke with his family members on site,” he said. “They described him as a hardworking man just trying to make a living. They were understandably devastated.”
The Jackson Police Department has launched a death investigation, but at this stage, it is being treated as an accidental death. Authorities are still examining the details to determine the exact cause of the malfunction.
