Tractor accident kills local man

CLOVERDALE -- A Cloverdale man known by many for his support of youth programs, including the local 4-H and FFA clubs, died Wednesday in an accident on his farm.

Law enforcement officials who were at the scene shortly after 6:30 p.m. say 58-year-old Gerald "Jerry" Sinclair was killed instantly when the tractor he was driving rolled over him.

Cloverdale Police Officer Charlie Hallam, who was the first official to arrive on the scene, said Sinclair had been using the tractor to move dirt on a hillside that had washed out in a previous rainstorm. Sinclair was driving the tractor on top of the hill when, according to Hallam, the dirt shifted underneath the tractor, causing it to roll down the hill.

Putnam County Deputy Coroner Steve Walters said Sinclair was thrown off the tractor as it rolled down the hill. The cause of death was severe head trauma.

"It appears that as he was backing up, the dirt caved in and the tire gave way," Hallam said.

A family member went looking for Sinclair and found him, Hallam said.

Services for Sinclair will take place this Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Donald L. Pearson Mortuary in Cloverdale. There will be visitation on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and ending with the funeral service at 3 p.m.

The family is in the process of setting up a memorial fund in Sinclair's name at the First National Bank in Cloverdale.