Northfield highway worker killed in equipment accident
Grief counselors brought in for town employees
UPDATED 6:11 PM EDT Jul 22, 2016
NORTHFIELD, N.H. —A highway department worker in Northfield was killed Thursday morning in an equipment accident.
Tom Wooten, 56, of Belmont, was injured while working at the Northfield Highway Department and later died. Police said the accident happened just before 9 a.m.
How to help: GoFundMe page
"Apparently, they were moving a large piece of equipment with a couple of tractors, and during the moving of the equipment, Tom was caught in between the tractor and the trailer that they were moving," Sgt. James McIntire said.
McIntire said Wooten was rushed to a hospital.
"Originally, it appeared he was fine, but apparently, there were some internal injuries, and he died of those injuries once he was at the hospital or in transit," McIntire said.
Town employees said they were struggling to deal with the news.
"It was a terrible shock to everyone, and I think everyone is still in shock after the accident yesterday," Town Administrator Glenn Smith said.
Wooten worked with the Highway Department for three years.
"During that time, he was just a joy to work with and to be around," Smith said. "He was a can-do kind of guy who was also very much a part of the team."
Grief counselors were on hand Friday.
"The selectmen had coordinated a crisis response session for our highway crew that happened this morning," Smith said.
The accident is being investigated to see if proper procedures were followed. McIntire said there will be no criminal charges.
"We conducted an investigation documenting the scene behind the highway garage," he said. "At this point, it's being looked at as an industrial accident, and (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has been notified."
Smith said that many in the town are trying to cope with the loss.
"At this point, we are just a hurting family in the town of Northfield," he said.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Wooten's family.