Truck driver run over and killed by own semi on Highway 128

BROOMFIELD, Colo. -- A truck driver was run over and killed by his own truck on Highway 128 in Broomfield on Thursday morning, according to the Boulder County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators believe the 35-year-old driver, from Thornton, pulled off on the shoulder of Highway 128 near Eldorado Boulevard around 6:15 a.m. to check something with the rear driver's side tires of his semi truck.

"The man was between the tandem axels of the truck when it began to roll forward," the Boulder County Sheriff's Office said. "The man became caught in the dual tires and tandem axels on the driver's side and was drug approximately 250 feet until the semi truck came to rest on its own. It isn't yet known why the truck rolled forward onto the man."

Investigators said a co-worker, who is also a family member of the victim, was en route to deliver materials to the same job site as the victim and found the man.

It took emergency personnel nearly an hour to extricate the victim from under the semi. A medical helicopter took the victim to the hospital, but the driver died from his injuries, according to the Boulder County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities said the man had suffered massive trauma to his lower body.

The accident is under investigation. Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to call the sheriff's office at (303) 441-4444.