Basco man found dead in grain bin in Sutter

SUTTER, Ill. — A Basco man was found dead in a grain bin on Wednesday afternoon.

The Hamilton and Warsaw fire departments, Hancock County EMS and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched by Hancock/Henderson County 911 for a report of a person trapped in a grain bin at 1076 E. County Road 650 in Sutter.

Upon arrival at the scene, emergency personnel were met by farmers and the family of Calvin Baumann, 75, of Basco, the farmer trapped in the bin. Baumann had been in the bin, trying to clear a blockage in the bin’s unloading auger.

Fire personnel cut relief holes in the sides of the bin, and with the help of the deputies, EMS and farmers began moving grain out of the bin. After a substantial amount of soybeans were removed from the bin, Baumann was found, removed from the big and checked by EMS. He was found to be beyond life saving measures.

Hancock County Coroner Kendall Beals was contacted. He responded to the scene and pronounced Baumann dead.