Owner of Farm Land Pinned Under Tractor While Clearing Fence Line, Michigan

SUMMARY

In Winter 2015 a male owner of farm land in his 60s died when a John Deere 2240 tractor fell onto him. He was using the tractor, which was equipped with a bucket, to move small trees and brush he had previously cut from the fence row into one of the fields he rented out. While backing up the tractor, it became stuck and elevated slightly, most likely from a tree. He got off the tractor and walked back to his house to pick up a screwdriver and bushman’s saw (similar to a hack saw). It is unknown if the tractor was left running when he went back to the house. Returning to the tractor, he went under the tractor with his body near the left rear tractor wheel. The tractor was in gear and PTO running. Using the bushman’s saw he sawed the log/tree that had contributed to the tractor to becoming stuck. After the tree was sawn through, the tractor fell to the ground. Based on both clothing damage and injuries, he may have come into contact with the rotating power take off (PTO). He was found by a family member under the left rear tractor wheel. Emergency response was called and he was declared dead at the scene.

Owner of Farm Land Pinned Under Tractor While Clearing Fence Line, Michiganpdf icon [PDF 705 KB]