staff report

VALPARAISO — A Valparaiso man died Thursday after being crushed underneath his pickup truck while doing repairs.

The Valparaiso Police Department, Valparaiso Volunteer Fire Department and Okaloosa EMS responded to a call at Southview Avenue about a man being pinned underneath a vehicle.

The victim, John Newberry, had been doing repairs with a business partner and removed the front tires from the vehicle and propped it up with car jacks, according to Valparaiso Fire Department Chief Mark Norris.

Norris said the pickup truck rolled forward off of the jacks and fell on Newberry’s chest and neck.

Norris was reportedly the first on scene — only one minute after the call was placed — and worked with his team to lift the vehicle off of Newberry within three minutes.

Okaloosa County Emergency Services began treating Newberry for his injuries. He was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries, Norris said.