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Police: Minn. Garage Door Death Ruled Accident

BARNESVILLE, Minn. (AP) -- Authorities have ruled the death of a Barnesville man found trapped under a garage door was an accident.

Preliminary autopsy results find that 51-year-old Steve Peterson died of asphyxiation.

Barnesville Police Chief Dean Ernst tells The Forum newspaper that Peterson apparently was unable to breathe when the garage door came down on his chest.

Peterson was part-owner of Barnesville Bus Co. He was found March 7 at the business.

The police chief has said Peterson apparently was trying to duck under the garage door as it was closing when he somehow got caught under it.

(© Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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