Bucks County Coroner: Corpse Fell Onto Street Because Truck Was Old

A photo started circling around social media late Friday afternoon showing a dead body sitting on a gurney in the middle of Street Road (warning: link contains giant photo) in Feasterville, Bucks County, about a mile from the Philadelphia border. Well, the story was not a hoax, and now the Bucks coroner is explaining why the body fell out.

At fault, Coroner Dr. Joseph Campbell says, was an old transport truck with 80,000 miles on it. The 2002 Chevrolet was actually scheduled to be taken out of service later this month. Campbell explained in detail how this happened: The locking mechanism securing the gurney came loose, thanks to years of wear. The gurney then stuck a hatchback handle which was supposed to be disabled. But, over time, the screws locking the hatchback handle in place became worn and when the gurney hit it on Friday, the back door popped open.

“It was a horrible thing,” Campbell said. “I can’t tell you how upset I was. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t make this up.” The body was of a young woman who is suspected to have died of a drug overdose.

Jerry Bradley, the man who posted the photo to his Facebook page, spotted the body on Street Road near Bustleton Pike and immediately thought it was a joke. “I’m looking around to see if there’s any cameras or anything around,” he said.

The truck has been taken out of service. The deputy coroner who was driving called in the incident at 12:04 p.m. and said the body had been re-secured six minutes later.

[The Morning Call/Bucks County Courier Times | Fox 29]