Truck driver dies leaving AK Steel

A truck driver was found dead Thursday morning in his semi tractor-trailer that was parked at the AK Steel Wicoff Gate area on Crawford Street, according to the Middletown police report.

Police were called to the scene at 8 a.m. Thursday after James Burg Trucking Co. called AK Steel inquiring about the driver of one of its trucks. An AK Steel employee told police that Tommy Alan Payne, 55, of Onsted, Mich., loaded his truck at 11:35 a.m. Wednesday and was seen leaving AK Steel.

He was pronounced dead at 9:30 a.m., according to the Butler County Coroner’s Office. The cause of death is pending, officials said.

Police said it appeared Payne had fallen out his seat and was lying on the passenger side of the truck. Police said they saw nothing that appeared to be suspicious in the death.

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