A man from Florida, identified as John Victor Vanslytman, 29, from Maitland, tragically lost his life in an unusual incident in a parking lot.
He became trapped between his pickup truck and an 18-wheeler outside a truck stop in South Carolina, as reported by investigators.
The incident occurred at approximately 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 1, at a Love’s Travel Stop in Blacksburg, which is located about 5 miles south of the North Carolina state line. This travel stop is situated next to Interstate 85.
“Vanslytman was in the parking lot…. standing on a 6 foot step ladder while working under the hood of his pick-up truck,” said Cherokee County Coroner Dennis Fowler in a news release.
“A tractor-trailer rig entered the parking lot and stuck Vanslytman while attempting to make a turn. The victim was pinned between the (rig) and his truck. Efforts to resuscitate him by EMS and fire personnel were unsuccessful.”
Vanslytman passed away in the parking lot, he mentioned. An autopsy is scheduled as part of an ongoing inquiry. The identity of the tractor-trailer driver has not been disclosed.
