One man died overnight in Capitol Heights when he was crushed by a van that fell on him while he tried to change a tire.
Police do not believe the death was storm related but said it happened around 2 a.m. Tuesday near Nova Avenue and Rail Street.
“He was attempting to change a tire on a vehicle and the vehicle fell on him,” Prince George's County police spokesman Officer Edward Martin said.
The man was identified as 35-year-old Aaron Jerome Smith, of the 4300 block of Torque Street in Capitol Heights.
A friend called Mr. Smith early Tuesday and asked for help in changing a flat tire on his rented Dodge Caravan, said Capt. Joseph Hoffman, of the county police department. Mr. Smith had gotten the Caravan up on a jack and was trying to get a spare tire out from underneath the van.
“The spare would not come down and he went underneath to pull the spare tire off and the jack shifted and it falls on him,” Capt. Hoffman said. “The friend attempted to jack the car up to get the van off his friend but was unsuccessful.”
Mr. Smith died at the scene.
© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.
Andrea Noble is a crime and public safety reporter for The Washington Times. She can be reached at anoble@washingtontimes.com.
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