CALEDONIA TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A man was taken to the hospital Tuesday morning after being rescued from a silo in Caledonia Township.
It happened around 10 a.m. at Caledonia Farmers Elevator Co. on S Lake Street and Main Street.
The 58-year-old man was pulled out of the silo around 12:27 p.m. after crews spent a couple hours working to free him. He was conscious when an ambulance took him to an area hospital.
Authorities said he suffered a serious leg injury while he was inside cleaning out the remaining corn, but is expected to survive.
Caledonia Farmers Elevator Co. released the following statement:
"At 10am this morning a 58 year old male employee got his right leg caught in an auger while cleaning corn out of a grain bin. The emergency responders took great care to extract him in the safest manner for which we are very grateful. Aero Med and EMS medical personnel were on site to provide the best medical care possible. The employee is currently in surgery at Spectrum Hospital. The incident is under investigation."
This isn't the first emergency involving a grain silo at this site. In July 2017, 56-year-old Daniel Hibma lost his life. The cause of death was asphyxiation. According to MIOSHA, Caledonia Farmers Elevator was fined $21,000 for violations directly related to his death and $7,800 for other violations inspectors found during that time.
MISHOA is also investigating Tuesday's incident.
