SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb. (AP) - A western Nebraska irrigation district employee has died after falling into a blazing ditch, where he was burning weeds.
Scottsbluff radio station KNEB reports (https://bit.ly/1l3gVcp ) that the accident occurred Friday afternoon, killing 67-year-old Llewellyn Mattern. Investigators say Mattern, who worked for the Pathfinder irrigation district, slipped down a ditch embankment and fell an estimated 11 feet into the fire.
Deputy Scotts Bluff County Coroner Jeremy Anderson says Mattern was taken to a Scottsbluff hospital with severe burns over 75 percent of his body and was pronounced dead at the hospital a short time later. An autopsy is planned next week.
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