Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees confirmed his death was ruled an accident as a result of blunt force trauma from the tractor’s tire, reports The Tribune Democrat.

Tributes were paid to the former lawmaker on Facebook by the youth program Camp Cadet of Somerset County, of which Bastian was one of their founding board members.

“He was an instrumental part of our program when we first organized in 2000 and stayed active in our program until a few years ago, taking a senior advisory position,” the organization wrote. “He will be dearly missed. He held Camp Cadet close to him and thought so much of the program. Rest easy Bob, we’ll take it from here. You won’t be forgotten.”

Pat Stefano, member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, representing District 32, also paid tribute to Bastian, posting a photograph of the pair on Facebook while describing him as someone who “paved the way for Republicans in Somerset County.”

“His leadership extended beyond his service in the State House which ended in 2008,” Stefano said. “He remained an active member of the Somerset County community and a passionate advocate for the needs of agriculture and volunteer fire services.

“Some of my favorite days of my first campaign in 2014 was being shepherded around Somerset County by Bob to meet people he felt I had to know. It was a testament to Bob’s character and passion that he didn’t introduce me to big money donors, but to Fire chiefs, small business owners and farmers. ‘This is Somerset County’ Bob would tell me.

“In that same sense, Bob was Somerset County: Hard working, good humored and community minded. He made Somerset County a better place to live and his impact will certainly outlive him.”

Born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on October 21, 1938, Bastian graduated from Williamsport Senior High School in 1956. He went on to graduate from Penn State University in 1959 and then from Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine in 1963.

After finishing his education, he served in the United States Air Force between 1966 and 1968, achieving the rank of captain.

He first unsuccessfully ran for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1996 before being elected in 1999. He went on to serve four more terms, during which he joined the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee in 2005 until stepping away from politics in 2008.

Correction: This article previously stated that Bob Bastian was a congressman. He was a Pennsylvania State Representative.