Man Killed in Vintage Military Vehicle Accident

The husband of Jelly Belly’s chief executive accidentally crushed a man to death with a World War II-era M5 high speed tractor tank during a reunion on the family’s property in Fairfield, Calif., authorities said. The accident occurred about 2:25 p.m. on August 22, 2015, on the property of fourth-generation candy maker Herman Rowland Sr. during a family reunion. Rowland is a collector of the military vehicles, that he stores in a restoration facility called “The Tank Barn.”

Rowland’s daughter, Lisa Rowland Brasher, was named chief executive in March and reports to her father, who is now the company’s chairman. It was her husband, Dwayne Brasher, 62, of Vacaville, who was driving the 1944 M5, according to authorities.

The California Highway Patrol said the victim was Kevin Wright, 54, of Suisun City, Calif. Authorities said Brasher was driving the military tank through an open field on the property on Abernathy Road. Wright was a passenger and was sitting on the front edge of the high speed tractor, facing inward. When the vehicle traveled down a dirt hill, Wright lost his balance, fell backwards and landed directly in front of the tracks.