BOYNE CITY, MI -- There was a freak accident at an estate sale in Charlevoix County on Friday.  A woman backed through a fence with her car, running over and killing one of the customers.

The accident happened on Pearl Street near downtown Boyne City around 11am Friday.

According to police, the car was in the next door neighbor's driveway and in reverse.  The driver lost control of the acceleration, slamming through the chain link fence, hitting the man, and ultimately hitting the house.

Linda Fineout was at the estate sale at this home near downtown Boyne City, rummaging, when the freak accident occurred.

"There was a big crash, we were ready to go outside, then the guy who saw everything yelled, ‘Call 911, call 911,’ so I went outside with my friend, saw the car, and there were two people inside the car, and I'm a nurse, so I went over to make sure they were ok, and there was a man pinned under the tires," said Fineout.

A customer of the estate sale, 51-year old Richard Baatz of East Jordan was trapped under the tires of a Subaru Forrester.  Emergency crews responded, they used the Jaws of Life to free the man from underneath the vehicle, but it was too late.  Baatz was pronounced dead at the scene.

"He beat cancer, he's been through different things, and this is just a terrible accident," said family friend Barb Wandrie.

Wandrie and her husband David knew Richard Baatz well.  He was in their wedding, always was around, and was planning to go bear hunting with David in two weeks.  She said he was a roofer by trade.

"Solid human being, great human being, you could call him anytime day or night, and he'd be there to help," said Wandrie.

Police are investigating just what happened and how it did.  And when that's known, it'll add a little closure to Baatz's family and friends.

The 68-year old woman driver of the Subaru was taken to Northern Michigan Hospital with minor injuries.

Her 90-year old passenger was not hurt.