Local man killed in loader accident

A 43-year-old Medford man is dead after being run over by a loader at local business.

On December 5, 2023, at 3:27 p.m. the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a man had been run over by a loader at the Crass Sawmill located at W3638 State Hwy 64 in the town of Browning. It was further reported that the man was not conscious or breathing at the time of the 911 call. Taylor County deputies along with ambulance and emergency medical services were dispatched.

According to sheriff Larry Woebbeking, upon arrival the deputies found the victim laying on the ground deceased with severe head trauma. The victim was identified as 43-year-old Mark A. Frischman of Medford.

The investigation into the incident finds that the victim, Mark Frischman, was talking with another individual in the driveway in near proximity to a large loader that was unloading a semitruck. The conversation ended and one individual walked away and was about 6 feet away from Frischman when he turned back and saw Mark Frischman had been backed-over by the loader.

According to Woebbeking, the loader operator was backing a large loader that is not equipped with a back up camera or back up alarms. He was unaware that Mark Frischman was standing in the path of the loader as he was backing. Also contributing to the incident were semi-trucks and other large equipment running making it difficult for the victim to have heard the loader approaching him.

The investigation into the incident is ongoing.