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Figure 1. Picture of sway bar/linkage, 

passenger side, decedent’s work area

MIFACE INVESTIGATION REPORT #13MI149

SUBJECT: Truck Mechanic Pinned By Truck’s Sway Bar and Link

SUMMARY

In fall 2013, a male truck mechanic in his 40s 

died when a pickup truck fell on him. The 

decedent was in the process of checking the 

truck for an oil leak. The truck had been 

driven up a slight incline and parked with the 

front wheels on a cement apron surrounding a 

building. The front wheels were positioned

several inches east of a 5-inch deep trench

and the back wheels on dirt in a concaveshaped 3-inch trench. There was a consistent 

elevation decline from the building to the 

west to allow for water drainage. The 

decedent started the truck, placed it in 

neutral, and partially depressed the parking 

brake. No wheel chocks were used to prevent truck movement. At some point while lying on his 

back working under the truck, the truck moved backward, with the front wheels entering a 5-inch 

deep dirt trench. The truck’s sway bar and link to the rear of the front axle fell on the decedent’s 

chest, pinning him against the cement (Figure 1). A building employee had left approximately 

one hour earlier and had noted the truck running. When he returned, the truck was still running, 

so he looked under the truck. Seeing the decedent, he screamed for help. Emergency response

was summoned. A jack was used to raise the truck. The decedent was transported to a local 

hospital and declared dead.

Factors which contributed to this fatal incident include: 

• Vehicle not blocked from inadvertent movement 

• Unsafe work practices.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• Persons performing vehicle maintenance should ensure that vehicles are adequately 

supported while maintenance is performed underneath and that vehicles are protected 

against inadvertent movement. 
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INTRODUCTION

In fall 2013, a male truck mechanic in his 40s died when a pickup truck fell on him. MIFACE 

learned of this incident from a newspaper clipping. MIFACE contacted the company, who based 

on the newspaper clipping, appeared to be his employer. MIFACE determined that the decedent 

was not employed by this company but bartered services with the company owner; the owner, 

who was friends with the decedent, lent the decedent equipment, and the decedent would repair 

equipment for the company owner when repair was necessary. During the writing of this report, 

the police report and pictures, the medical examiner’s report and the MIOSHA file were 

reviewed. Pictures are courtesy of the responding police department. Pictures were altered by 

MIFACE to preserve anonymity. 

The decedent’s friend owned a construction company. The construction company was installing 

an underground retention pond with associated manholes and sewer lines at an auto parts store. 

The firm’s owner indicated he had been introduced to the decedent by a mutual friend 

approximately one year ago, and over this period of time, had become good friends with him. 

The decedent was a certified truck mechanic and had a CDL license. He had full time 

employment with a trucking company. The decedent worked at this trucking company for 7-10 

years. He had recently been placed on 2nd shift (1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.). 

Due to the decedent’s afternoon work hours, his friend indicated to the MIFACE researcher that 

the decedent had nothing to do until he went 

to work. The decedent often showed up at his 

friend’s worksites, offering to do work to help 

fill the time and keep his mind off some 

personal issues until he went to his full-time 

job at the trucking company. The friend 

permitted him to perform work, and found 

“odd jobs” for him to complete. The friend 

did not provide compensation to the decedent 

to perform these work tasks, although there 

was discussion that the decedent would leave 

his full time job at the trucking company and 

begin working for his friend. 

The decedent, according to his friend, had 

some personal issues that may have distracted his attention from his work. For example, his 

friend indicated that, while on his worksites, the decedent had placed himself in “dangerous” 

positions (e.g., near open manholes and excavations) because his attention was on texting, not his 

surrounding environment.

Figure 2. Truck involved in incident. Truck 

facing east, front wheels in trench
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MIOSHA General Industry Safety and Health Division investigated the incident and determined 

no employer-employee relationship existed and thus the death was not program-related.

INVESTIGATION

On the day of the incident, the decedent came to his friend’s worksite at approximately 8:30-9:00 

a.m. The worksite was located near the decedent’s home. He spoke with his friend and they 

talked briefly. The decedent asked if there was anything he could do at the site. The friend 

decided, based on their conversation that he should give him something “non-hazardous” to do. 

One of the friend’s business trucks (Ford F450) was leaking oil, and due to the decedent’s 

experience, fixing the leak would be a good task for him to perform. 

At approximately 9:30am, the friend drove the truck to the back of the auto parts store, parking 

the truck facing east (Figure 2). There had been two newly created trenches near the building due 

to the removal of concrete. The trench located a few feet from the building was approximately 

three feet wide and approximately five inches deep. The second trench was approximately 19 1⁄2 

inches wide, was concave in nature, and was located approximately 14 feet away from the 

building. There was a slight pavement decline from the building toward the center of the 

property to allow for water drainage. The decedent’s friend parked the truck with the truck’s 

front wheels over and several inches past the easternmost trench, in front of an overhead door to 

allow for more space under the truck for 

the decedent to work. The friend placed 

the manual transmission in park and 

turned the ignition key to off. The work 

plan did not include jacking the truck up 

from the ground. 

Police investigation indicated that the 

truck’s rear wheels were probably 

positioned in the concave area of the 

second trench. On the driver’s side of the 

truck, not too far away, was a door to the 

store. The friend then left the decedent 

and began work on an excavation located 

approximately 50 feet away. 

The friend indicated the following sequence of events: After he parked the truck, the decedent 

went to his home and to his parent’s home nearby to procure tools. He then went into the auto 

parts store and bought a can of brake cleaner, and then crossed the street to a gas station and 

bought a soda. He arrived back at the truck and began work. The decedent placed a blanket on 

the ground by the passenger side front wheel. He started the truck with the door open, took the 

truck out of gear, and placed it in neutral. He did not fully apply the parking brake or chock the 

Figure 3. View of undercarriage and distance 

between sway bar and linkage and cement
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Figure 4. View of incident area looking from 

driver’s side. 

wheels. No other safety devices were in place near the vehicle’s wheels. When the truck was 

placed in neutral, the friend indicated the truck lurched backward a couple of inches. The 

decedent walked around the rear of the truck to the passenger side and positioned himself under 

the truck. 

Sometime between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., auto part store personnel heard a scream and 

walked out of the door to investigate. 

Seeing nothing, they returned inside of 

the store. At approximately 10:30 am, an 

auto parts store employee exited through 

the side door and noted the truck running. 

The auto parts store employee returned at 

approximately 11:30 a.m., and again 

noted the truck was running. He looked 

under the truck and saw the decedent 

lying on his back with the truck’s sway 

bar and linkage on his chest. He screamed 

for the decedent’s friend, who came 

running. Emergency response was 

summoned. The decedent’s friend used a 

jack to raise the truck up from the 

decedent. Emergency response personnel 

arrived and assumed care. The decedent was taken to a local hospital where he was declared 

deceased. At some point after the decedent was found, someone turned the truck off.

Police pictures at the scene show that the decedent took a flashlight, a can of brake cleaner, and a 

rag with him when he went under the truck. Responding police found that the brake cleaner was 

lying next to the passenger side front tire with its cap off and an oily rag. There was an area on 

the oil pan that looked like it had been freshly wiped and had oil/dirt consistent with the oily rag 

found at the scene under the truck. 

For reasons unknown, while he was under the truck, the truck rolled backward four to five inches 

and fell down hard as the tires entered the five inch deep dirt trench. The ground clearance on the 

driver’s side of the vehicle near the front bumper (minus the plastic air dam) and lower fender 

area measured approximately 12 inches. Police personnel measured 51⁄4 inches from the 

compacted earth near the west edge of the trench to the bottom of the sway bar where it 

connected to the passenger side sway bar link. A second measurement from the concrete west 

edge to the lower passenger side leaf spring was measured at approximately 9 inches. 

Police investigation found that the parking brake had been partially depressed, but not fully 

engaged. Police personnel measured the distance from the carpeted floor (mats moved out of the 

way) to the bottom of the rubber pedal pad or the parking brake pedal and recorded a 
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measurement of approximately 71⁄2 inches. Police noted the parking brake release lever was in 

the “relaxed” position, where the pedal position locking device would be allowed to be engaged.

Police pulled the parking brake release lever and allowed the parking brake pedal to return to its 

natural position when the pedal latch was released and measured that distance to be

approximately 8 7/8 inches. Police then set the parking brake with reasonable pressure and 

recorded a measurement of approximately 51⁄2 inches from the carpeted floor to the bottom of the 

pedal pad. A difference of 2 inches was recorded. 

CAUSE OF DEATH

The cause of death as listed on the death certificate was traumatic asphyxiation. Toxicology was 

consistent with medical treatment. 

RECOMMENDATIONS/DISCUSSION

• Persons performing vehicle maintenance should ensure that vehicles are adequately 

supported while maintenance is performed underneath and that vehicles are protected 

against inadvertent movement. 

Prior to beginning any type of work under a vehicle, individuals should always verify that the 

vehicle is properly supported and stabilized. The decision was made by the decedent and his 

friend that the slope would provide enough clearance for the decedent to safely work underneath 

the vehicle. Although not ideal, this would have been the case if the vehicle’s parking brake was 

fully depressed and appropriate wheel chocks used. 

A safer way of performing this task would have been to set the parking brake, use a rated jack to 

lift the vehicle, a jack stand rated for the weight of the truck on each side of the front of the 

vehicle for support and to prevent the vehicle from falling, and appropriate wheel chocks on both 

rear tires. 

The decedent’s friend indicated there were “items nearby” that could have been used to chock 

the tires. Workers should ensure that the chocks selected are manufactured for the type and size 

of vehicle tire to be chocked. Workers should not use dunnage, blocks of wood, stones, or other 

objects not manufactured to serves as chocks.

• Employers should develop, implement, and enforce a comprehensive preventive 

maintenance program that includes safe work practices. 

Developing policies and procedures on preventive maintenance can assist firms in performing 

scheduled maintenance, monitoring maintenance conducted, and inspecting completed 

maintenance. Performing preventive maintenance on a vehicle can be time consuming and 

redundant at times, but the overall goal is to lengthen the life of a vehicle and diagnose potential 
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problems before they become costly to repair, take a vehicle out-of-service, or pose a safety risk 

to the operator and/or passenger(s). 

Maintenance schedules should be established and recorded as an integral part of a well-planned 

maintenance program. The maintenance program should include daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, 

and periodic maintenance service checks. The maintenance checks should be based on the 

manufacturer’s service manuals, the tire manufacturer’s recommendations, and operating 

conditions. 

Establishing a system for retaining records is an important component of a preventive 

maintenance program. All service records, whether an issue is identified or not, should be 

maintained according to the individual vehicle and kept for the life of the vehicle. In many 

cases, problems can only be found by comparing current findings with previous 

observations/work performed. 

KEY WORDS: working under unsupported vehicle, maintenance schedules, jack stands, vehicle 

repair.

REFERENCES

• Washington FACE Investigation Report #11WA013: Truck Driver Dies after being Run 

Over by Propane Transport Rolling Backward at Bulk Plant, 

http://www.lni.wa.gov/safety/research/face/files/propanetruckdriver.pdf 

• NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation Report 2010-37: Volunteer Fire Captain Dies 

from Injuries Received after a Brush Truck Undergoing Maintenance Strikes and Pins 

Him Against a Wall — Indiana, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face201037.html

• NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation Report 2011-19: Career Lieutenant Dies from 

Injuries Received after Vehicle Undergoing Maintenance Crushes Him – Massachusetts

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face201119.html 

MIFACE (Michigan Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation), Michigan State University 

(MSU) Occupational & Environmental Medicine, 909 Fee Road, 117 West Fee Hall, East 

Lansing, Michigan 48824-1315; http://www.oem.msu.edu. This information is for educational 

purposes only. This MIFACE report becomes public property upon publication and may be 

printed verbatim with credit to MSU. Reprinting cannot be used to endorse or advertise a 

commercial product or company. All rights reserved. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal 

opportunity employer. March 4, 2015