Thursday, July 16, 2015

Man dies after tractor overturns in water-filled ditch near Georgetown, Delaware


A man died in an apparent accidental drowning while operating a farm tractor near Georgetown on Wednesday, state police said.

State police were called at about 6:45 p.m. to the area near a water-filled tax ditch – one of a network of ditches created for drainage and maintained by taxes of property owners around them – behind 18642 County Seat Highway, Sgt. Richard Bratz said.

It was there that they found an older model 8N Ford Farm Tractor overturned in the water-filled ditch about a quarter-mile behind the residence, trapping the driver – identified as Kendall B. Hastings, 47, of Georgetown – inside, Bratz said.

Police believe that Hastings was cutting brush along the deep ditch when the right rear tire of the tractor slipped off the steep bank, Bratz said.

The Delaware Division of Forensic Science removed the body and will perform an autopsy to determine the cause of death, he added. Police are continuing to investigate.