Man Crushed To Death By Military Tank At Jelly Belly Co. Family Reunion

SOLANO COUNTY (CBS SF) -- A Suisun City man who was run over and killed by a military tank at a family reunion Saturday afternoon for the family that runs the Fairfield based Jelly Belly Candy Co. has been identified by the Solano County coroner's office as 54-year-old Kevin Wright.

Vacaville resident Dwayne Brasher, 62, the husband of Jelly Belly Candy CEO Lisa Rowland Brasher, was driving the green 1944 World War II M-5 tank in a field at 4144 Abernathy Road in unincorporated Solano County around 2:25 p.m. Saturday, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Wright was sitting on the front end of the tank facing inward as the tank traveled down a dirt hill, CHP officials said.

Wright lost his balance and fell backwards directly in front of the tank and was run over, according to the CHP.

Medics pronounced Wright dead at 2:41 p.m., according to the coroner's office.

Brasher had permission of the owner to operate the tank and give rides on the private property, CHP officials said.

There were about 50 people at the family reunion Saturday. The victim, Wright, was a World War II aficionado, as is Herman Rowland, Lisa's father and chairman of the board at Jelly Belly, Rowland family spokeswoman Holly Carter said.

Herman Rowland said in a statement, "Our family is grieving over this tragic loss. The gentleman involved in this accident was a passionate person, always ready to lend a hand and we shared the same deep rooted love of history. To have him die so tragically during our family reunion is impossible to comprehend."

Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be a factor in the death, according to the CHP.

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