A man tragically lost his life after being buried under hot asphalt after a dump truck reportedly had a mechanical issue in Jackson, Mississippi.
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The incident occurred on Monday at around 10:30 a.m. when Darrell Sheriff, 41, a private contractor, went to AJ Materials to pick up supplies, the Jackson Police Department said in a statement. According to PEOPLE, officers discovered Sheriff’s body buried under the heavy layer of hot asphalt and said he attempted to fix the truck’s malfunction before his death.
“It appeared to be some type of malfunction with his dump truck. As he tried to fix it, the vehicle unloaded the hot material onto him,” said JPD Chief Joseph Wade. He added that Sheriff’s family described him as a “good man” who was hardworking and called his death a “tragic situation.”
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Sheriff’s death was declared accidental by authorities, and witnesses on the scene allegedly tried to assist him but were unable to do so due to his severe injuries. Wade did say that Sheriff battled for his life, but his wounds were too severe.
“He fought to make it through, but the injuries were just too enormous for him to survive. With the holidays coming up, losing this gentleman who was simply trying to make a living is heart-wrenching. We will stand by his family, offering support and prayers.”
