SAN SABA COUNTY (May 4, 2009)--An 81-year-old San Saba man died Monday morning while he was shredding a field off Farm-to-Market Road 2732 in rural San Saba County.

The Texas Department of Public Safety office in Lampasas told News 10 Craigan Johnson was driving a tractor with a shredder attached at about 11:15 am Monday when the shredder struck a guy wire attached to a power pole.

The shredder snapped the wire, which flew across the adjacent roadway and struck a passing vehicle.

The recoil of the wire cable forced it back toward Johnson and it struck him in the chest and abdomen.

The impact of the wire is what investigators determined killed Johnson.

Johnson was flown by helicopter ambulance to Brownwood where he was later pronounced dead.

A spokesman for the San Saba County Sheriff's Office said there was no autopsy ordered.

Johnson's body was taken to Howell-Doran Funeral Home, in San Saba, where arrangements are pending.

The driver of the vehicle involved was not injured.