FORT GAY, W.Va. (AP) - A former mayor in the Wayne County community of Fort Gay has died in a backhoe accident. Ft. Gay is just across the Big Sandy River from Louisa, Ky. in Johnson County.

Police say Lawrence Thompson had gotten out of the backhoe and it ran over him. The backhoe apparently had a braking problem or was knocked into gear, causing it to move.

Police say the 70-year-old Thompson died on the way to a hospital.
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Information from: WSAZ-TV, http://www.wsaz.com

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-06-07-08 1125EDT