TITUSVILLE, Fla. – A landscaper was fatally injured at a Titusville church when he was accidentally run over while laying mulch Friday morning, according to police.
The accident was reported at the Temple Baptist Church on US 1 at 7:30 a.m.
Police said the landscape worker, identified as Matthew D. Pollison, 25, of Titusville, was spreading mulch around some trees when he was accidentally struck by a Ford F450 work truck as it was backing up. Christian K. Conley, 21, of Titusville was behind the wheel of the Ford truck.
Pollison was taken to Parrish Medical Center, where he died.
Parents taking their children to Temple Christian School witnessed the emergency response.
"I was just wondering what happened," said parent Brian Ragin. "I saw a mulch truck so I figured, possibly something went wrong with the guys mulching."
"It's just a tragic accident," said the church's Associate Pastor Marty Braemer. "Our hearts go out to the families who have suffered a great loss, today."
Braemer says the men were landscaping to help the church prepare for a weekend car show.
The church says the car show will go on as planned.
Police are investigating the incident as a traffic crash homicide.
News 6 asked police Friday if the Ford F-450 made some kind of a cautionary beeping noise when it was backing up and if the landscaper was wearing any kind of ear plugs or headphones that might have prevented him from hearing a vehicle backing up in his direction.
Police told News 6 they can't answer those questions right now because that information is all pending the current investigation.