MURFREESBORO – The Christmas holiday period got off on a somber note here Friday where a Murfreesboro man tragically lost his life in a farming accident.

Billy Davis Vann, 52, died when he was struck and pinned underneath a farm tractor.

According to Hertford County Sheriff Juan Vaughan, a rescue call was received at approximately 4:45 p.m. from the Vaughan Farm, located on Collin Road near Murfreesboro. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, only to find that Vann had succumbed to the injuries he sustained when pinned under the tractor.

Sheriff Vaughan reported that three farm workers had just completed a day of mowing and each was in the process of cleaning the farm equipment when the accident occurred.

&uot;Mr. Vann was preparing to move the tractor he was operating up under a farm shelter,&uot; said the Sheriff. &uot;Apparently, the tractor had a faulty starter and Mr. Vann was allegedly attempting to start the tractor by ‘jumping’ the solenoid. Unbeknowingly to Mr. Vann, the tractor was still in gear at the time and once he started it, the tractor lurched forward, pulling him under the tire.&uot;

The Sheriff went on to say that the tractor traveled a short distance, striking a farm truck, before it choked off and came to a stop. He added that the blades of the mower were not engaged at the time of the accident.

Vann was employed by C.D. Howell & Sons Farms.

Murfreesboro police and fire units along with Hertford County EMS responded to the scene along with the Hertford County Sheriff’s Office.