Delaware State Police
News Release

Update – Identity Released

 The person who died earlier this morning in the Milford incident was Edward J. Hankins, 27 from Milford. This will conclude the information being released in regards to this incident.

Milford Man Dies While Working on Disabled Vehicle

Released Friday, January 30, 2009

Milford – The Delaware State Police are currently investigating the death of a 27 year old Milford man that occurred this morning at approximately 6:55 am after he was found unresponsive underneath a pick-up truck he was working on.

Troopers responded to the parking lot of the Sunoco Gas Station located at 840 Bay Road north of Milford after 911 was called reporting the man was trapped underneath the truck and appeared unconscious.

When emergency service personnel arrived they moved the 1985 Dodge Ram pick-up off of him and attempted life saving measures, but the man had already died. Investigators have determined that the male subject was traveling south on US 113 when his vehicle experienced transmission problems. As a result, he pulled into the parking lot of the gas station and began to work on the truck.

The truck was running when he laid on the ground underneath it just behind the left front tire. At some point while he was attempting to fix the transmission from underneath the vehicle the truck was inadvertently put into reverse and the vehicle moved backwards pinning him on the ground with the tire abutting his neck and head.

As referenced above, when medical personnel arrived and moved the vehicle off of him he had died from injuries sustained. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The state’s medical examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine specific cause and manner of death. Investigators do not suspect foul play and are investigating this as an accidental death.

The identity of the deceased will be released later today after next of kin have been notified.

 

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