Washington County sheriff: 61-year-old man nearly run over by semi-tractor in Richfield

WASHINGTON COUNTY -- The Washington County Sheriff's Office reports a 61-year-old New Berlin man was nearly run over by a semi-tractor in the Village of Richfield. It happened Wednesday morning, February 21st.

According to the sheriff's office, the 61-year-old employee of a local trucking company, was trying to disengage frozen brakes on a parked semi-tractor by hitting them with a hammer. The brakes released and sent the tractor rolling -- with the victim hanging on underneath -- approximately 152 feet before another employee was able to stop it.

Officials say the victim hung onto the undercarriage of the semi the entire time it was rolling away to avoid being run over. The man sustained injuries, but was not run over. He was transported to Froedtert Medical Center.

The incident remains under investigation by the Washington County Sheriff's Office.