Backhoe operator killed by his machine in odd accident

A backhoe operator in Phoenix was found dead earlier this week in an accident with little in the way of explanation.

According to a report from azfamily.com, the operator’s co-workers went looking for him and found him dead, somehow becoming “tangled up” in the hydraulic arms in either the backhoe’s stick or boom.

His co-workers pulled him out and attempted to resuscitate him, but were unsuccessful.

Since it appears no one witnessed the accident, it’s unclear how the operator became tangled in such a way. But it’s definitely a reminder to operators everywhere that no matter how comfortable you are around these machines, they can be deadly in unexpected ways.