A 25-year-old East Devon man has tragically died after being crushed in his tractor after it ploughed through a hedge and into the lane below.
Police officers, including forensic collision investigators, are still at the scene of the tragedy which occurred at around 12.30pm near Houghton Farm on the Northmostown road between Otterton and Newton Poppleford.
The driver of the tractor is from the local area and was pronounced dead at the scene earlier today.
His next-of-kin are being informed.
The tractor, estimated to weigh around nine tonnes, was pulling a nine tonne trailer full of grass at the time of the incident.
Senior investigating officer, Sergeant Nick Bloomfield from the Serious Collision Unit in Exeter confirmed that the tractor, which had been used to cut grass in a nearby field, appeared to have been travelling back through the field when it kept going and ploughed through the hedge and toppled over a high bank onto the road on the other side.
The weight of the trailer crushed the tractor trapping the farmer inside.
"It appears that as the tractor came down the slope, for whatever reason, it kept going in a straight line and the tractor was crushed by the trailer trapping the driver inside," explained Sgt Bloomfield.
An investigation into the cause of the incident is ongoing.
Nearby resident Richard Gibbons pledged his condolences to the victim and his family and praised the efforts of the emergency services.
"They couldn't have responded any quicker," he said. "The time it took them to turn up was magnificent.
"I've never seen so many police and ambulances, the whole road was full and the road completely blocked.
"It's very sad," he added.
Police are appealing for witnesses of the incident to contact them on 101 and quote log number 330 of the 19/5/14.
The road is currently still closed.
