Park Employee Run Over by Own Truck

July 15, 2009

San Diego - A Wild Animal Park employee got run over by his own truck on Tuesday morning near the main entrance of the park.

According to the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesman, Maurice Luque, the 40-year-old man got off his truck to unload but left it in gear. The man was standing at the foot of the vehicle with its tailgate down. When he pulled the gate up, the truck began to roll forward.

Luque said that the park employee tried to get back inside the vehicle but he lost his footing and fell when it struck a curb. The truck then ran over his leg. He remained trapped under his truck for 25 to 30 minutes before he got freed by rescue crews and was flown to a hospital.

Christina Simmons, the spokeswoman of Wild Animal Park said that the accident is currently under investigation.