DeLand Man, 85, Pinned By Tractor, Fatally Injured

Date Added: July 27, 2017 5:40 pm

Andrew Gant
Office of Public Affairs and Media Relations

DELAND MAN, 85, PINNED BY TRACTOR, FATALLY INJURED

An 85-year-old man who was injured when he was pinned by a tractor Thursday later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Deputies responded to the call at 1624 Hazen Road, DeLand, around noon Thursday. The victim, James H. Gordon Jr., had called his wife for help while he was pinned under the tractor. A lawn service worker was able to move the tractor off Mr. Gordon, and an ambulance transported him to Florida Hospital DeLand. Life-saving measures there were unsuccessful.

Detectives interviewed Mr. Gordon's wife and learned Mr. Gordon had called for lawn service, and a crew was on its way to the property. Mr. Gordon went out to his barn to start the tractor. When he did, it was already in gear, and it lurched forward, running over him and pinning him under the front right tire. A member of the lawn crew was able to move the tractor off Mr. Gordon and confirmed to detectives that it was still in gear when he did, and he had to put the tractor into neutral.

Gordon was pronounced dead at the emergency room around 1:02 p.m.