A contractor working at the Simplot Soil Builders fertilizer operation in Hershey, Neb., was killed in an industrial accident about 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim as Russ Peterson, 59, Ogallala, Neb. Chief Deputy Roland Kramer said Peterson was among workers of an outside company doing maintenance on an elevator with a crane when a structure collapsed onto the roof of a building. There were no other injuries.
Simplot spokesman Ken Dey in Boise said Peterson was not a Simplot employee. "It appears to be a tragic accident, and we offer our condolences to the family," Dey told Green Markets.