NEW BAVARIA -- A rural New Bavaria man was killed Saturday morning in a farming accident along Henry County Road C-2.
Joseph Thome, 69, 15102 County Road Y, New Bavaria, was pronounced dead at the scene by Henry County Coroner Marek Skoskiewicz.
According to the Henry County Sheriff's Office, Thome and a relative, Stephen Peck, Ottawa, were in a field in the 14000 block of Road C-2 preparing to redrill a soybean field.
Peck reportedly was working on the placement of an auger chute when the International tractor began moving forward.
Peck reportedly fell off the drill's platform, got up and began running after the tractor, while Thome was being dragged under the drill. Deputies reported that Peck then reached inside the tractor to turn it off.
Deputies continue to investigate the incident and are unsure as to whether Thome was on the tractor steps or standing on the ground when the tractor was started.
Assisting at the scene were Holgate EMS, Medic One and New Bavaria Fire Department.