GUILDERLAND — A town employee was killed on the job Friday when the compactor truck he was riding on backed up over him.

Sean P. McCutcheon, a 19-year employee of the town’s highway department, was on the truck picking up yard debris.

At approximately 12:40 p.m. at the corner of East Highland Drive and County Lane, as the truck was backing up, McCutcheon tripped and fell, and the truck backed over him, according to a release from the Guilderland Police Department. 

Guilderland Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene, and the Western Turnpike Rescue Squad transported McCutcheon to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

His wife, Cathy McCutcheon, said she “ totally understands it was just an accident.”

“He loved all of the guys he worked with,” she said.

The Highway Department shut down on Wednesday afternoon and all day Thursday so employees could attend the wake and funeral for McCutcheon. (See obituary.)

Chief Carol Lawlor of the Guilderland Police Department said the incident is still under investigation.