Medical Event Believed Cause of Fatal Tractor Accident in Clay County

A medical event is believed to have resulted in a crash and the death of a rural Noble man.

Clay County Coroner Bryce Henry said 65-year-old Donald R. Herdes was traveling north on Hurricane Creek Road when Herdes suffered a "natural cause medical event" causing him to go unresponsive. The tractor Herdes was in continued down the road for a short distance before going off into the ditch and eventually hitting a power line pole, causing the lines to fall on the tractor.

Once the power was disabled, emergency crews removed Herdes from the tractor and transported him to Clay County Hospital in Flora, where he was pronounced dead in the Emergency Room.

The incident occurred at 10:40am Saturday about one mile north of Bucktown Lane.

Agencies responding to the incident included the Clay County Sheriff's Office, Clay County EMS, Clay City Fire Protection District, and the Clay County Coroner's Office.