Farm worker dies in machinery accident
By JOB VIGIL
North Platte, NE
A farm worker died after getting caught in machinery Tuesday morning at a potato farm south of North Platte.
Lloyd Behrens, 57, of North Platte was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s deputies and North Platte Rescue were called at 9:20 a.m. to the farm on West Watts Road.
Behrens became trapped in a potato barge while doing maintenance, said Steve Gangwish, chief operating officer of CSS Farms, which owns the farm. A potato barge is used to collect and transport potatoes during harvest, he said.
Gangwish repeatedly expressed sympathies to Behrens’ family, saying the company and its employees are “heartbroken about the tragic accident.”
He said the company hadn’t had such an accident in 30 years. CSS Farms is investigating and cooperating with local law enforcement and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, he said.
Founded in 1986, the company has a presence in 13 states, according to its website.
No foul play, drugs or alcohol are suspected in the incident, the sheriff’s office said.
Here is the announcement from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office:
On September 12, 2017 at 9:20 a.m., Deputies were advised of an accident involving farm equipment south of North Platte, on West Watts Road. It was reported a male subject was pinned in the mechanical portion of a farm implement.
Deputies and North Platte Rescue responded to the location and found the gentleman was trapped in potato collecting machine on private property. The male subject was identified as fifty-seven year old Lloyd Behrens of North Platte, NE. Mr. Behrens was pronounced dead at the scene. No foul play, drugs or alcohol are suspected.