Death Of Dump Truck Driver At Petaluma Landfill Investigated

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — California Highway Patrol officials have released more information in their investigation of a tragic incident last week at a Sonoma County landfill that fatally injured a truck driver who was hauling debris from wildfire excavation sites. Medical personnel pronounced Ezekiel Jackson Sumner, 60, of Paradise, California, deceased at about 6:15 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15 after an employee at Central Landfill near Petaluma noticed his dump truck idling, then saw Sumner underneath and behind the left rear tires, CHP Officer Jonathan Sloat said.

Sumner was driving the dump truck for contractor RHC Equipment when he checked into the landfill on Meacham Road at 4:45 p.m.; at 5:55 p.m. is when the employee noticed something was awry, Sloat said.

"... Mr. Sumner’s truck was idling in the middle of a large open area and ... the tires were smoking," Sloat said. "The truck was in gear and had backed into its own trailer. The employee placed the truck into neutral and activated the parking brake. At that point the employee noticed Mr. Sumner underneath ... "

"Based on the preliminary facts, it appears that Mr. Sumner was in the process of re-attaching his trailer to the back of his truck, when the vehicle backed over him, causing fatal injuries," Sloat said.

Fire personnel responded to the scene but were not able to resuscitate Sumner.

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CHP officers and representatives from Cal OSHA, Ghilloti Construction, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers all responded to the scene, as well.

The truck was impounded so that a vehicle inspection can take place, according to the CHP.

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