Son accidentally backs over dad

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- A Poplar Bluff man is in serious condition after being run over by a van last week on Highland Drive near Poplar Bluff High School.

Lew Tinker and his 53-year-old son, Lester Tinker, apparently had been mowing a yard at 1409 Highland Drive, according to Poplar Bluff Police patrolman Jamie Sample, who investigated the accident.

The Tinkers had parked their Ford panel van across the street on what Sample described as the wide shoulder on the south side of Highland.

"It's my understanding the lawn mower had broken down, and the son was backing (their van) across the street," Sample said. " ... (Lew Tinker) fell into the street as the son was backing up, and the son couldn't see him because there were no windows in the van, only side mirrors."

Sample said the younger Tinker ran over his father and dragged him a short distance before he was flagged down and stopped.

Authorities were notified at 11:55 a.m., and police and emergency medical services personnel responded.

Sample said the 78-year-old man was taken by ambulance to the high school parking lot, where a helicopter landed to fly him to a hospital for treatment of possibly serious injuries.

Lew Tinker was flown to Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau and later transferred to Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis for treatment.