And seems Dad may have been negligent-with devastating results.

From the story.
"State police Lt. DuWayne Robinson said the bulldozer was known to malfunction. He said the machine would abruptly stop and then shift into reverse on its own. Investigators think that's what happened when the boy fell off the trailer, the lieutenant said."

And just for the record-I call BS. I'm a mechanic & they don't have a ghost in the transmission. Dad was F'ing around probably.

I know rural types and they love collecting heavy equipment. Poor child was probably having fun, helping dad--what an awful way to go. Dad will never be the same.