Sheriff’s office IDs hay ride accident victim

MONTEVIDEO - A 59-year-old New London man has been identified as the person killed Saturday in a hayride accident, according to the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office said Monday that Robert Steven Bentz was on a hayride for a birthday party at the time of the accident near Kerkhoven. A tractor was pulling two hayracks joined together. Bentz fell between the hayracks and was run over by the second hayrack after apparently attempting to move from the first hayrack to the second.
An obituary for Bob Bentz posted on the Harvey Anderson & Johnson Funeral Homes website says that a gathering of family and friends will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Johnson Funeral Home in New London. Bentz lived on Norway Lake, the obituary says, and Tribune archives show that for several years he formerly operated Last Chance Bait and Grocery there.
The Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office said that the accident occurred about 7:46 p.m. Saturday on 120th Ave. N.E., one half mile south of Minnesota Highway 40 in Woods Township, about 16 miles west of Willmar.
A Life Link helicopter was dispatched and landed, but Bentz was declared dead at the scene.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, John Timmons of Kerkhoven was driving the tractor that was pulling the hay racks.
The matter is under investigation by the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Clara City Police Department, Minnesota State Patrol, Boondock First Responders, Kerkhoven Ambulance, Montevideo Ambulance, Willmar Ambulance and paramedic staff, Life Link and Clara City Fire Department.