A man is dead after a fatal collision between a truck and a tractor that took place just north of Roseau River Monday morning.

As Fire Chief Barry Gushuliak understands it, the tractor operator was travelling southbound along Highway 59, at around 7:30 AM when he was suddenly struck from behind.

“A feed truck hit the tractor and sent it flying through the ditch and into a wooded area. The truck also flipped on it’s side and landed in the ditch.”

When firefighters arrived at the scene they initially presumed that the tractor had been parked and that the truck driver was the only person involved. Gushuliak says the crash must have happened so fast that the driver had not noticed anyone riding the farm equipment. Then his crews discovered the body.

“As far as we know, the occupant of the tractor was thrown from the tractor and somehow got pinned underneath the trailer of the truck and that is where my guys found him,” reasons Gushuliak.

The 72-year old male from the RM of Emerson Franklin was pronounced deceased on scene.

Morris RCMP officers arrived on scene shortly afterward and instructed the firefighters to remove the body from its position beneath the truck. They were advised by the uninjured, 64-year-old driver from Ile des Chenes that he had been proceeding southbound and had not noticed the tractor until it was too late. Police confirm that alcohol and speed were not factors in this collision. RCMP along with the Criminal Collision Investigation Team and a Forensic Collision Reconstructionist continue to investigate to determine who was at fault and if any charges will be laid. 

Gushuliak says these kinds of rare incidents always weigh heavily on the minds of his members and notes they have already held a debriefing session to discuss what had happened.

"I will keep checking up with them to see how they are dealing with the repercussions of trauma,” he states.

That being said, Gushuliak acknowledges that the feelings of loss the man’s family must now be dealing with are incomparable. He offers his sincerest condolences.