Passerby spotted Pahrump man underneath Jeep days after earthquake

Pahrump, NV (KSNV) — The July 4 earthquake near Ridgecrest, California may have killed a Pahrump man. Nye County sheriff deputies say the 56-year-old was found crushed underneath his Jeep.

Police believe the earthquake shook the truck right off the blocks as the man was working on it. Sheriff deputies say a passerby happened to see the man’s body.

That passerby noticed the man’s body on Tuesday. A 911 call was immediately made. Investigators say the man had been missing for five days and was last seen July 3 at a Pahrump gas station.

Detectives believe the earthquake may have caused the Jeep to fall off two jacks that were holding it up while the man was working underneath it.

Nye County sheriff deputy David Boruchowitz said, “We are not in a position to say we are certain for sure. We are still doing a lot of investigation but timing wise and the way the scene is it really appears something abnormal knocked the vehicle off the jacks.”

RELATED | Another earthquake felt in Vegas! Did you feel it?

Boruchowitz says the earthquake gave Pahrump a good shake. He remembers the aftermath inside the county jail.

“It was significant enough to knock things off the filing cabinet. Certainly enough to knock a car off a jack.”

Pahrump residents like Ron Claytek say the earthquake was rough.

“It was like you were on a boat. I had to hold the couch.”

Claytek also believes the earthquake caused the man’s death.

“It’s very possible because like I said it was a rocking motion.”

Nye County sheriff deputies say their investigation is ongoing. In a statement released Thursday, the sheriff's office identified the man as 55-year-old Troy Ray.

An autopsy determined Ray died from traumatic asphyxia, with other significant factors including blunt force injury. His death has been ruled an accident.