RENSSELAERVILLE — Michael J. Tomaselli, the owner of Tomaselli Contracting and the Catskill Creek Ranch in Freehold, died Monday, police say, after being pinned behind the cab of his dump truck. 

Tomaselli, 41, was dumping a load of soil at 713 Route 351 in Rensselaerville with his 1969 single-axle Mack dump truck when the accident occurred, according to the Albany County Sheriff’s Department. 

After dumping the load of soil, Tomaselli climbed onto the frame of the truck behind the cab, under the raised dump body, according to the sheriff’s department.  While he was on the frame of the truck, the dump body, police say, lowered and pinned him between the rear of the cab and the front portion of the dump body. 

The sheriff’s department says it is unknown why Tomaselli was on the frame of the truck while the dump body was in the raised position. 

Tomaselli was pronounced dead at the scene by Albany County Coroner John Keegan and transported to Albany Medical Center Hospital, where an autopsy was performed. 

The vehicle, police say, has been impounded, pending further investigation.