Tractor kills 3-year-old

A 3-year-old Salley, S.C., boy was killed Saturday morning after he was accidentally run over by a tractor in Perry.

Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton identified the child as Harper Green, of the 200 block of Tillman Poole Road in Salley. He said Harper was pronounced dead at Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia.

The accident happened at about 9 a.m. in the 100 block of Hollow Creek Road, said Lt. Michael Frank, a spokesman for the Aiken County Sheriff's Office.

He said the boy's father, Troy Green, 36, had his son on his lap while riding in a 1977 Ford 7600 Series farm tractor.

Mr. Green stopped the tractor and placed his son on the ground because he needed to attach a piece of equipment to the tractor, the lieutenant said.

Mr. Green's foot slipped off the clutch, and the tractor rolled forward and over Harper.

Lt. Frank said a helicopter airlifted the child to the Columbia trauma center.

Mr. Carlton said an autopsy on Harper's body is scheduled this morning in Newberry, S.C., but the preliminary cause of death is multiple head trauma.

Lt. Frank said the death was accidental and that no charges were filed.

Contacted via telephone Saturday afternoon, Mr. Green would not comment.

Reach Justin Boron or Jeremy Craig at (706) 724-0851.