WILMINGTON, DELAWARE (12/26/2014) A worker was killed this afternoon when he was struck by a tractor at the Cherry Island Landfill, authorities said.
State police identified the victim as Jose Luis Garcia-Hernandez, 42, of Newark.
Paramedics were called to the landfill in the 1700 block of E. 12th St. at 12:18 p.m.
The worker was pronounced dead at the scene, said Cpl. Abigail Haas of New Castle County paramedics.
Police said Aaron F. Harley, 52, of Wilmington was operating a Caterpillar D6R LGP Crawler Tractor within the landfill, pushing trash into a large pile.
Police said co-worker Garcia-Hernandez was standing behind the tractor and was struck as Harley was backing up.
Police are still investigating the incident. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration also will be investigating.
Wilmington firefighters and St. Francis EMS also responded.