State Police Investigating Death of Truck Driver at I-270 Weigh Station

A truck driver was attempting to make repairs to his flatbed truck when a mishap led to the truck backing over and killing the driver, who had become pinned under the vehicle.

Maryland State Police are investigating the death of a tractor-trailer driver that occurred this morning at the weigh station off I-270 in Montgomery County.

At approximately 11:30 am Friday morning, July 6, a trooper with the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division at the Hyattstown weigh station placed the victim’s tractor-trailer out of service for brake violations. The vehicle was placed in the out-of-service lot at the facility.

Montgomery County Fire Rescue was dispatched to the scene, but the victim’s injuries were too severe, according to senior spokesman Pete Piringer.

Based on a preliminary investigation, the driver was attempting to make the necessary brake adjustments but had failed to engage the parking brake on the vehicle. As the driver was under the truck, it rolled back and over the driver. The driver was declared deceased at the scene, according to a State Police press release.

State police have identified the victim as James Lee Hobbs, 58, of Salisbury, Md. No one else was injured as a result of this incident. The incident remains under investigation.

Photos courtesy MCFRS.