Man rescued from beneath overturned tractor; flown to Mayo Clinic
Published 9:37 am Wednesday, July 3, 2019
A Red Rock Township man was injured when he was pinned under an overturned tractor Tuesday evening.
Roger Oelkers, 72, was flown to Mayo Clinic by Mayo One. His condition was not immediately known late Tuesday.
According to Mower County Sheriff Steve Sandvik, emergency services were contacted at about 6:07 p.m. regarding the incident. Sandvik said that Oelkers was using a tractor to mow a ditch on 240th Street in Red Rock Township when the tractor became disabled.
Oelkers’ wife attempted to tow him out of the ditch with a truck, but the tractor flipped over and pinned Oelkers under the left wheel.
A Mower County deputy was first to arrive on scene and supplied Oelkers with oxygen. The Austin Fire Department, Mayo Ambulance Service, Brownsdale Police Department, Brownsdale Fire Department and Brownsdale First Responders also responded to the scene.
Brownsdale firefighters used an extrication tool, crib and lift to free Oelkers, Sandvik said. Oelkers was then flown to Mayo Clinic Hospital, Saint Marys Campus-Rochester.
Sandvik said Oelkers was breathing when he was loaded onto the helicopter, though there have been no further updates on his condition.