A routine fast-food run turned tragic when an elderly man lost his life in a “freak accident” while navigating a McDonald’s drive-thru.
The victim, identified as 69-year-old Michael Dickinson, was getting food at a Grand Island, Nebraska, location on Tuesday, December 23, when the tragedy occurred.
As the “horrific” news spread around the Christmas holidays, social media users expressed deep concern and sent prayers to the grieving family.
“Oh how traumatizing for everyone who survives this terrible accident. May they find peace,” one user wrote.
Michael Dickinson unexpectedly lost his life in a “freak” accident while getting food at a McDonald’s drive-thru
The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, when officers and firefighters responded to reports of an injured man on 2nd Street in the city, approximately 24 miles southwest of Lincoln.
According to responding authorities, Michael Dickinson was found trapped between his vehicle and the fast-food restaurant’s payment window.
He was quickly freed and transported to CHI St. Francis emergency room for medical treatment.
While it remains unclear whether Dickinson was alive when first responders arrived at the scene, he was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.
Investigators confirmed that he was the only person inside the vehicle at the time, and the incident has since been classified as a “freak accident.”
The 69-year-old was found fatally pinned between the vehicle he was operating and the fast-food chain’s payment window
Grand Island Police Division Chief Dean Elliott has since shed some light on the case, which is still under investigation, calling it “100% a freak accident.”
Elliott told KSNB, “It appears the deceased opened the door to further reach out the window for payment purposes.”
“We’re not sure if the vehicle lurched forward or what happened, but he got pinched between the door frame and the drive thru window counter.”
The police chief further stated that a McDonald’s employee went outside to assist Dickinson.
The unidentified employee reportedly attempted to help through the passenger side of the vehicle but was unable to do so and sustained injuries in the process.
The injured employee was taken in an ambulance to a hospital and reportedly is expected to recover.
Netizens expressed their sympathies for Michael’s family, calling his passing “traumatizing” and “unfortunate.”
Grand Island Police Division Chief Dean Elliott said in a recent statement that no foul play is suspected in the still being investigated case
One user wrote, “What a terrible thing. I’m so sorry for the family’s loss especially this time of year.”
Another remarked, “What an awful way to lose someone. And at Christmas. Hope the family manages.”
Others criticized the outlet for remaining open despite the tragedy, after the scene was cleared at 12:35 p.m., nearly two hours after police first arrived.
“As a person who works in a drive thru, That’s traumatizing!”
Many said the incident reminded them of the Final Destination film franchise, with one user writing, “That’s some final destination stuff right there!”
The tragedy also sparked debate among netizens over whether elderly individuals should be allowed to drive
The way Dickinson was trapped between his own door frame and the drive-thru window counter struck many as resembling the highly improbable, freak scenarios portrayed in the films.
Another discussion point raised online centered on the appropriate age at which people should stop driving.
One person wrote, “Elderly people shouldn’t be allowed to drive!!! They are a danger to themselves and others! DMV should perform driving tests to people over 65 every month to check their ability to drive safely.”
This sentiment was echoed by another user, who said, “Some people just don’t have the capacity to operate vehicles.”
As of the time of writing, the Grand Island Police Department’s Accident Reconstruction Team is assisting with the ongoing investigation.
“This just goes to show we never know when it’s going to be our last day on earth… This is crazy!” wrote one user online
