A worker was accidentally dragged to his death in the parking lot of State Farm Stadium during cleanup after last week's Super Bowl, Arizona authorities said Tuesday.
Shawn Eugene Lee, 44, of Georgia, was taking down a tent Saturday morning and wearing a safety harness that was attached to a utility terrain vehicle, or UTV, Glendale police said.
"At one point, another male got behind the wheel of the UTV and started to drive off, without any knowledge that Lee’s harness was attached," police said in a statement. "Lee was pulled from the tent and dragged unbeknownst by the driver of the UTV."
Lee was about 20 feet off the ground when the accident happened, police spokesman Jose Santiago said.
"We have not been able to determine why it was attached to that vehicle or who attached it to the vehicle," Santiago said.
Lee's death is being investigated as an "industrial accident," and "no charges are expected to be filed," according to the police statement.
Maricopa County medical examiner's records showed that Lee died from "blunt force injuries" and that his manner of death was called an "accident."
Lee and other workers were breaking down several large temporary structures that had been built around the stadium for the Super Bowl, police said.
Loved ones said he was an avid fan of the University of Georgia's football and baseball teams.
"Shawn was very kind hearted, loved and respected everyone," niece Kaley Stone said in statement. "My Uncle Shawn was proud of his family, he loved us very much and made sure we knew every opportunity he had.”
