70-Year-Old Farmer Killed in Sedgwick County Accident
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office has identified David Humboldt, 70, as the victim of a fatal farming accident near Mulvane on Wednesday afternoon.
According to authorities, a 911 call was placed at 2:06 p.m. by Humboldt’s son, reporting an accident involving his father and a large John Deere combine. Deputies and emergency responders from Mulvane Fire/EMS arrived at the scene in the 10200 block of 127th Street East in southern Sedgwick County. Despite their efforts, Humboldt was pronounced dead due to his injuries.
Lt. Steven Olsen of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged the inherent risks of farming, emphasizing the challenges posed by heavy machinery. “It’s a tough job being a farmer, a lot of hard work with big, big machinery,” Olsen said. “Combines are huge, massive farm implements, and accidents can be very difficult.”
Olsen noted that there was little to investigate regarding the incident, shifting the department’s focus to providing support for the grieving family. “The family’s not doing well at all,” he shared. “With the holidays approaching, this tragedy came at an especially difficult time. They’re struggling a great deal. Our main concern now is what we can do to help them.”
Farming remains a high-risk occupation. A 2022 CDC study revealed a national farming accident death rate of 18.6 deaths per 100,000 workers. Sheriff Olsen highlighted that such dangers are particularly prominent in Kansas, a state with a strong agricultural presence.