Barton County Sheriff’s officers and the Claflin Fire Department responded after a tractor and farm implements pulled down a power line near Claflin Monday afternoon. 

According to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir, emergency responders were dispatched to the 1300 block of NE 120 Ave., northwest of Claflin, just after 3 p.m. Monday. Upon arrival, they discovered a tractor and implements operated by Kyle Albers of Ellinwood were entering the field at that location when one of the implements became entangled in overhead power lines. 

Albers was unaware of the situation, causing a power pole to be pulled over and the tractor and implements to become entangled in live powerlines. Albers, however, remained in the cab of the vehicle and did not come in contact with any energized surfaces. 

Crews from Midwest Energy who were already working in the area were able to shut the powerlines off, and Albers was able to exit the the cab after being trapped for about 45 minutes.