The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department has tonight issued additional information on what is being called a type of farming or construction accident that killed a Warsaw man.

Emergency personnel responded just before 7 p.m. Sunday to 1657 East 225 South, Warsaw, after receiving a 9-1-1 call of a male subject trapped under a skid-loader or Bobcat. Law enforcement officers and paramedics arrived and found John Bud Elliott, 65, crushed between the hydraulic bucket arms and the bodywork of a 610 Bobcat skid-loader.

Kosciusko County Deputy Coroner Tony Ciriello arrived on the scene and pronounced Elliott dead from blunt force trauma to the chest. Deputy Coroner Ciriello said it initially appears Elliot had been possibly exiting the front of the skid-load when his clothing got caught on the hydraulic operating lever resulting in the accident.

Elliot had originally left his residence at approximately 6 p.m. and had not returned for supper when his wife began to investigate. She located him and called 9-1-1. Ciriello said it is currently unknown what Elliot was preparing to use the bucket skid-loader for initially, but the property is where a residence is being demolished.

The accident is currently under investigation, but is initially being listed as a farming accident by the Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office.

Also assisting at the scene were members of the Warsaw/Wayne Township Fire Territory, Winona Lake Fire Department, Multi-Township EMS, Winona Lake Police Department and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department.