RURAL BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA – A Northern Iowa man died in a grain bin accident.
The incident unfolded on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at approximately 5:10 PM, when the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from an individual in the 1600 block Nathen Bethel Avenue reporting that she could not locate her husband at their farm residence. She told the dispatcher that the male might be in a grain dryer, as video surveillance on site last showed the male going up into the grain dryer. Sheriff’s deputies and Winthrop fire personnel were dispatched to the scene.
After a brief search, the male was located in the grain dryer and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The male has been identified as 67-year-old Jerry Lee Kopf of Independence, Iowa.
According to the initial investigation, it appears the Kopf became trapped under corn in the dryer and was unable to free himself.
This incident remains under investigation.
The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, Winthrop Fire Department, AMR Ambulance and Buchanan County Medical Examiner Investigator were involved in the response.