19-Year-Old Lynnville Man Killed In Farming Accident

A Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office Press Release

On Friday, August 2nd, 2019, at approximately 8 am, members of the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to 1466 100th Street, in rural Lynnville (Mahaska County), regarding a farm accident.

Upon arrival, it was discovered that a subject had become entangled in a sweep auger, located inside a grain bin. The subject is identified as 19-year-old Benjamin Raymond Van Wyk of 1416 100th Street, Lynnville, Iowa. Van Wyk was pronounced dead at the scene.

Van Wyk was transported to the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny, where an autopsy will be performed at a later date. The investigation into this matter is continuing.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted during this incident by members of the Mahaska County Emergency Management Agency, the Mahaska County Dispatch Center, the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Reserve Unit, the Sully Fire and Ambulance Service and the Mahaska Health Ambulance Service.