Man dies in bulldozer accident in Bodega

CHP officials are investigating the death of a man who was killed in an accident Saturday morning while operating a bulldozer on a property in Bodega.

The accident was first reported to Sonoma County emergency dispatchers at 10:31 a.m. on a property near Salmon Creek Road and Bodega Highway, officials said.

CHP Sgt. Josh Kolstad said the identity of the man, a Hispanic man approximately 70 years old, has not yet been released, and sheriff’s officials are in the process of notifying his relatives. Kolstad said CHP officers responded because it involved a runaway vehicle on private property.

“Sounds like the driver was out clearing property, and he left it in neutral,” Kolstad said, adding that the driver likely tried to get something out of the way of the bulldozer and was run over.

Paramedics from the Bodega Bay Fire Protection District were the first to arrive. They made attempts to resuscitate him, but he died there, Bodega Bay Fire Capt. David Bynum said.

The CHP is investigating the incident, Kolstad said.