Iowa man killed when grain silo collapses

YARMOUTH, Iowa — An Iowa man died when a grain silo collapsed Tuesday, authorities said.

>> Read more trending news

Authorities recovered the body of Rickey Ryan Kammerer, 30, of Winfield, on Wednesday afternoon, KCRG-TV reported.

According to the Des Moines County Sheriff’s Office, the Yarmouth Fire Department responded to a call of a silo grain collapse at the Agri-Way Grain Elevators in Yarmouth at about 8:08 a.m. Tuesday.

Kammerer and another man were unloading a semi-truck full of grain into a holding shed when they heard a loud bang, Mediapolis Fire Chief Jeff Kerr told The Hawk Eye of Burlington.

“The one said, ‘Let’s get the hell out of here.’ They took off running,” Kerr told the newspaper. “The one made it out, and he turned around and the other guy wasn’t with him.”

Nearly 60 emergency responders, contractors and towing crew members worked together to remove the debris in an effort to reach Kammerer, The Associated Press reported.

Rescue crews located Kammerer’s body in the debris at about 1:15 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, the sheriff’s office said.

Des Moines County Sheriff Kevin Glendening told The Hawk Eye that authorities believe that the silo collapsed due to some type of structural failure.

The elevators are located on property owned by Gabeline Trucking Corp., according to property records, and are operated by Agri-Way Partners of Wayland, according to the newspaper.

“All of us are deeply saddened by the loss of our friend and co-worker,” Agri-Way said in a statement on Thursday. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this most difficult time. ... We’re providing law enforcement with information and are fully cooperating in their investigation. Additionally, we’re conducting our own internal investigation as to how this incident happened.”

A GoFundMe page has been established to help Kammerer’s family with funeral arrangements and other needs. Kammerer leaves behind a wife and a 7-year-old daughter, according to The Hawk Eye.

©2022 Cox Media Group