Minnesota Man Killed in Loading Mishap in Chickasaw County

A Minnesota man has died following a vehicle loading mishap late Monday morning in northeast Chickasaw County.

The Iowa State Patrol says the incident occurred shortly before noon Monday near the intersection of Vanderbilt Avenue and 160 Street, about six miles north of Lawler. An equipment operator, 21-year-old Joseph Gathje of Lanesboro, Minnesota, was attempting to load a tracked vehicle onto a semi-flatbed when the tracked vehicle rolled off the trailer and into the ditch, pinning Gathje underneath and killing him.

The Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Office, Protivin and Lawler fire departments, Chickasaw County Rescue Squad, Chickasaw Ambulance Service, Chickasaw County Medical Examiner and Chatfield Towing also assisted with the incident, which remains under investigation.