(Guthrie Co) A Guthrie Center man suffered serious injuries in a tractor rollover accident Friday afternoon.
The Guthrie County Sheriff’s Office says 65-year-old Howie Hockenberry was driving a small farm tractor with a front end loader attachment near North 6th Street. There was a large heavy rock in the loader that Hockenberry was attempting to move. The tractor was backing across the roadway and got into the grass. It is believed the weight of the rock in the front loader caused the back tires to lose traction. The tractor proceeded in reverse downhill without the ability to stop. Hockenberry took evasive action and spun the front tires around. The action caused the tractor to overturn an unknown amount of times.
Hockenberry was pinned under the tractor, but was able to get himself removed. He was transported to the Guthrie County Hospital landing zone by Panora EMS and was then transported to Iowa Methodist in Des Moines by air ambulance.
Panora EMS, Guthrie Center Fire Department and the Iowa State Patrol assisted at the scene.
