Grandfather killed in ‘freak accident’ at McDonald’s drive-thru

A 69-year-old grandfather in Nebraska died after a “freak accident” at a McDonald’s drive-thru shortly before Christmas.

Michael Dickinson was trapped between his car and the fast-food restaurant’s payment window in Grand Island. He was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead, according to Grand Island police.

Police Division Chief Dean Elliott told KSNB-TV that the incident was “100 percent a freak accident.”

He reported that the victim appears to open the door to further reach out the window for payment purposes.

“We’re not sure if the vehicle lurched forward or what happened, but he became pinned between the door frame and the drive-thru window counter,” he added.

A McDonald’s staff member attempted to help by vaulting through the passenger side of the vehicle but was injured and also taken to the hospital.

According to Dickinson’s daughter in an online post, he had his right leg amputated in September 2021, requiring him to wear a prosthetic and relearn how to walk. She did not disclose the cause of the amputation.

His family remembered him as a loving grandfather and a good man.

“A skilled and hardworking mechanic, Michael took pride in his work and had a gift for fixing what was broken,” the family wrote in a social media post.

“Though his life was cut short, Michael’s love, loyalty, and kindness will live on in the hearts of his family and friends,” the post added.