ROSCOMMON COUNTY — Authorities from the Roscommon County Sheriff’s Dept. said they believe the death of a 54-year-old Gaylord man, found at a rest stop in Higgins Township July 16, was accidental and do not suspect foul play was involved.

    Det. John Wybraniek said although his department is awaiting autopsy results to determine the actual cause of death of Joseph Pratt of Gaylord, the investigation has been completed.

    “The main thing is we do not suspect foul play,” the detective said of Pratt’s death.

    Pratt was reportedly found lying in the parking lot at the southbound I-75 9 Mile Road rest area July 16, around 4:30, by an Mobile Medical Response ambulance crew who had been on their way to Saginaw and had stopped at the rest area.

    Wybraniek said it appeared Pratt had somehow fallen while attempting to climb out of the bed of a pickup truck and was likely already dead when medical responders found him next to the truck. CPR and other life-saving measures had been implemented but Wybraniek said Pratt was pronounced dead at the scene.

    The driver of the pickup, Paul Nanasi, 53, Gaylord, was found by deputies, sleeping inside the cab of the truck. Wybraniek said the man was unaware his passenger had fallen sometime during the night.

    According to Wybraniek, the two men had left Gaylord earlier and while en route to Bay City had stopped at the rest stop to sleep. The detective said a blanket and pillow were found in the open bed of the pickup where Nanasi allegedly told investigators Pratt had been sleeping after the two decided to stop for a rest.

    “They had parked their vehicle to rest for the night and it was kind of stunning to find that Pratt had fallen from the truck,” Wybraniek said.

    “We think Pratt fell out of the truck and are waiting autopsy results to see if a heart attack or something else may have contributed to the fall. It appears to be a freak accident.”

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