Unmanned tractor slips into gear and runs over two workers, Louisiana cops say

Two workers were airlifted to a hospital Thursday afternoon after they were run over in a tractor accident, according to Louisiana authorities.

The two men were doing storm recovery work when the unmanned tractor accidentally slipped into gear and rolled onto them, the Slidell Police Department said in a news release. Both were severely injured in the incident.

“We extend our prayers for the two men involved,” the department wrote on Facebook.

Part of Pontchartrain Drive was shut down briefly as the workers were flown to University Hospital via AirMed helicopters, police said. Their conditions were unknown as of Friday.

Slidell is about 32 miles northeast of New Orleans.

This story was originally published October 15, 2021 at 1:16 PM with the headline "Unmanned tractor slips into gear and runs over two workers, Louisiana cops say."

Tanasia Kenney

Sun Herald

Tanasia is a service journalism reporter at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide explainers for the NC Service Journalism team. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.