A 47-year-old man is dead following a tractor rollover near Drayton.
Wellington County OPP say it happened around 5:15 a.m. on Side Road 19, north of County Road 8 and east of Drayton.
“A father and son were travelling from one farm to another,” Sgt. Rob Nixon tells CTV News.
According to police, 22-year-old Howard Brubacher was driving a Case International tractor northbound on Side Road 19, with father Orvie Brubacher riding on the fender.
Both men are from Mapleton Township.
The tractor then left the road and rolled over.
“As a result of the rollover, the older of the two occupants was pinned under the tractor,” says Nixon.
Orvie Brubacher was pronounced dead at the scene.
His son was not injured.
Area farmer Neil Driscoll calls the rollover a “tragic lesson” about safe operation of farm equipment – particularly about not taking extra passengers on tractors meant for solo drives.
“We’re all guilty of it. Most of us have gotten away with it – unfortunately, today, that didn’t happen,” he says.
“I hope we can learn that it’s one seat, one seatbelt, one operator.”
Side Road 19 remained closed between County Road 8 and the 12th Line for several hours as police investigated the crash.