Story originally printed in the La Crosse Tribune or online at www.lacrossetribune.com

Published - Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Two men rescued from silo

By DAN SIMMONS | La Crosse Tribune

CENTERVILLE, Wis. — Two men were injured Tuesday after a piece of equipment collapsed onto them while working inside a hay silo on a Centerville farm, authorities said.

The men, ages 57 and 58, were sent by helicopter to Franciscan Skemp Medical Center in La Crosse, where they were being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, said Matt Zavadsky, director of Tri-State Ambulance.

No names or conditions were available Tuesday.

The accident was reported about 6:15 p.m., when a loader in the silo came loose and fell onto the men, knocking them to a platform about halfway down the silo, Zavadsky said.

Another farm worker heard the collapse and the men’s cries for help.

Rescue crews from the Trempealeau and Arcadia fire departments had to use a ladder truck to reach the top of the silo, then lifted the men out with a special harness, Zavadsky said.

The 58-year-old had back injuries, Zavadsky said, while the 57-year-old had head and leg injuries.

Tri-State was joined at the farm by the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department, the Wisconsin State Patrol and the Trempealeau and Arcadia fire departments, Zavadsky said.

Dan Simmons can be reached at (608) 791-8217 or dsimmons@lacrossetribune.com.