Death in bulldozer accident spurs suit against company

The widow of Mannsville man run over and killed by a bulldozer while working at Hanson Aggregates Inc. property in May 2008 has filed a negligence suit against the company.

Loretta K. Eastman, as executor of the estate of James C. Eastman, filed a state Supreme Court action Friday at the Jefferson County clerk's office against Hanson Aggregates New York Inc. and Hanson Aggregates North America Inc., both of Irving, Texas; Lehigh Cement Co., Allentown, Pa., and Villager Construction Inc., Penfield.

Mr. Eastman, 64, was operating a bulldozer while building a ramp on Hanson Aggregates' property at 25133 Route 3, Pamelia, when he lost control of the machine and was partially ejected May 12, 2008. He was run over by the bulldozer's left track.

In her lawsuit, Mrs. Eastman contends that the ramp was unstable, which caused it to partially collapse, in turn causing Mr. Eastman to lose control of the machine and be thrown from it.

She maintains that Hanson Aggregates was negligent for, among other reasons, allowing a "defective and dangerous" condition to exist on its property and that all defendants were negligent for lacking supervision and inspection of the condition.

According to court documents, Hanson Aggregates contracted with Villager Construction to build the ramp, which went from a 75-foot elevation down to a landing area. Villager then subcontracted the work to Mr. Eastman's employer, Morgan Williams Construction, Excavation and Sanitation, Belleville.

The suit does not specify an amount being sought in damages. Mrs. Eastman is being represented in the action by attorney Patricia A. Lynn-Ford, Syracuse.