Wisconsin teen found in empty manure tank dies

HIXON – A rural Owen teen died Wednesday morning as a result of a farm accident in the town of Hixon.

The 16-year-old was spreading manure in a field Wednesday morning when he stopped the tractor he was operating after emptying the manure tank he was pulling, the Clark County Sheriff’s Department said.

The teen turned off the tractor’s power take-off shaft and entered the empty manure tank. He was found unconscious in the tank after being inside for an unknown amount of time. It is believed he entered the tank for maintenance issues. It is unknown how long the teen was inside the tank, the Sheriff’s Department said.

The teen was taken to Ministry Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield where he was pronounced dead.

The Clark County Sheriff’s Department and the Coroner’s Office are continuing their investigation.

It's not known how long the boy was in the tank. Firefighters removed the boy from the tank, and he was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. His name was not immediately released.