A Clearlake man was killed Friday afternoon when the diesel rig he was working on came out of gear and ran him over. Rescue response was dispatched, however, units were quickly reduced as the victim was determined deceased upon police officers” arrival.
The incident occurred around noon on 34th Avenue at Wilkinson. On scene witness reports suggest that Steve Spanos was working on his double axle rig when the vehicle came out of gear and ran him over. It appears that the diesel then descended down 34th Avenue approximately 300 yards before it slammed into three parked vehicles in front of the residence of Marti Byouer.
Byouer reported that she been startled by a loud crashing sound outside of her residence. When she came outside to investigate, she found that three of her vehicles had been mowed over by the diesel. She said that initially she had been upset because the diesel was still running and she was unsure of what had just happened; but when she looked into the vehicle she found that it was unoccupied. “At first I was mad because I didn”t know what was going on and the truck was still running,” Byouer said, “but then I saw that no one was in it.” She then looked further up the road she said, and she saw the victim laying in the roadway.
Byouer, who is a nurse, rushed to the victim but said that it was obvious there was nothing she could do for him.
Although three of her vehicles, along with her fence, were damaged, Byouer stated that it was fortunate that the diesel had been stopped and that no one else was hurt.
Clearlake Police personnel responded to the incident and conducted its investigation, which included witness statements, scene analysis and photographic documentation.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
