Two men have died in the last week as a result of tractor accidents, one from Lapeer County and the other from Alcona County.

In both instances the tractors they were riding on rolled and pinned the victims.

On the afternoon of May 19, Raymond Doughty of Otisville, was trying to pull a pickup truck from a muddy field in 5000 block of Wilson Road (near Catlin) in Marathon Township with his tractor, according to the Lapeer County Sheriff’s Department, which responded to the accident, as well as Marathon Township First Responders and the Columbiaville Fire Department.

Doughty, 77, lived in the area and was contacted by the truck owner. He agreed to assist with his farm utility tractor, described as a midsize (40 to 60 hp) vintage Farmall tractor. He connected to the front of the pickup with a chain and attempted to pull the vehicle forward, according to the Sheriff’s Department. As the tractor, which was not equipped with a roll bar, moved forward, it rolled over backward, pinning Doughty beneath.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. Columbiaville Fire Department and Yakes Towing Service in North Brach extricated Doughty from beneath the tractor.

The Sheriff’s Department is still investigating the accident.

Accident in Mikado
On the afternoon of May 21, a man from Mikado (Alcona County) ran the tractor he was driving off the road, rolling it and pinning him underneath, according to the Michigan State Police.

It happened at 1:30 p.m. on East Wissmiller Road near Coville Road. Troopers say the man died from the crash, but are not yet releasing his name. It is still under investigation, but alcohol is not believed to be a factor, according to the State Police.