60-year-old killed when street sweeper backs up and runs over him, Georgia cops say
A 60-year-old man died after he was hit by a street sweeper, police in Georgia say.
It happened at about 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8, at a construction site in Vidalia, according to the city’s police department.
Investigators said a construction street sweeper was going in reverse when it ran over a site inspector walking behind the vehicle, Georgia State Patrol said in a crash report.
“After impact, Vehicle 1 continued traveling ... in reverse for a short distance,” troopers wrote in the report. “The pedestrian was entrapped under the vehicle and required extrication.”
He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died, police said.
Authorities identified him as Nealie Miller of Mount Vernon. He was an employee with Atlanta-based Long Engineering Inc., police said.
The street sweeper operator told troopers he looked over his shoulder to see where he was going, but said the sun was in his eyes.
McClatchy News reached out to Long Engineering for comment Sept. 11 and was awaiting a response.
“Chief James Jermon and the Vidalia Police Department would like to send our most heartfelt sympathy to those family, friends and fellow co-workers of Mr. Miller,” police said in a statement.
Authorities didn’t release additional information.
Vidalia is about 170 miles southeast of Atlanta.
This story was originally published September 11, 2023 at 9:06 AM with the headline "60-year-old killed when street sweeper backs up and runs over him, Georgia cops say."