Nicholson man working heavy machinery is killed near Commerce

A Jackson County man was accidentally killed Tuesday while working on a large piece of road equipment at a farm near Commerce, according to a Jackson County Sheriff’s report.

The accident occurred sometime after 9 a.m. on a farm off Sandy Creek Road, Commerce, that is owned by the county’s elected coroner Keith Whitfield.

James William Sanders, 30, of Nicholson was killed while working under an asphalt spreader, which came down on him, according to the report.

Jackson County Deputy Coroner Jeff Rogers said Thursday that Sanders, who was employed on the farm, was working on a leaking hydraulic line when the accident occurred.

The sheriff’s report noted that two men delivering tires to the location found Sanders under the machine.

After calling 911, one man then used a skid steer to lift the spreader and the other pulled him from under the machine, according to the sheriff’s office.

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