Man Killed by Hot Asphalt in Freak Dump Truck Crash

A businessman who was helping another man with a stalled car was killed when a runaway dump truck crashed into a parking lot, struck the car and covered him in tons of steaming asphalt.

Truck driver Terry Conner told police he was approaching a busy intersection Monday when an indicator showed a loss of brake pressure. “His only option was to run into the traffic at the light or turn off into the parking lot,” Officer Steve Tinder said.

The truck crashed into a bank parking lot, striking three cars before dumping the asphalt and tipping over. The asphalt engulfed Charles H. Sprankle, 71, general manager of a property management company.