Posted on 07/03/2007 6:17:09 AM PDT by Abathar
RICHMOND, Va. - Deadly methane gas emanating from a dairy farm's manure pit killed five people, including four members of a Mennonite family, authorities said.
Emergency workers speculate each of the victims climbed into the pit in a frantic attempt to rescue the others. "It was a domino effect with one person going in, the second person going after them," Sheriff Don Farley said.
Farley identified the victims as Scott Showalter, 33; his wife, Phyillis, 34; their children, Shayla, 11, and Christina, 9; and Amous Stoltzfus, 24, who worked at the Showalter's dairy farm in the Briery Branch community.
The accident began Monday evening when Scott Showalter tried to transfer manure from one small pit to a larger one, measuring 20 feet by 20 feet and 8 feet deep.
At some point, the pipe that was transferring the manure became clogged, and Scott Showalter climbed in the pit to fix the blockage, Farley said. He apparently was overcome by methane gas, which is a byproduct of the liquefied manure, Farley said.
Emergency workers believe Stoltzfus climbed into the pit in an attempt to rescue Showalter. When the two men didn't come out, Phyillis Showalter and then the couple's two daughters apparently made their way in, all succumbing to the deadly gas.
How sad.
Oh for Pete’s sake.
Same thing happened to two brother in Ohio sometime back.
Thoughts and prayers for the family, and hopes the lawyers do not make things worse by turning it into a circus.
My grandmother once told me the story of a family she knew back in rural Alabama around the start of the last century. They all died trying to save each other from being electrocuted on a farm fence.
I don't think they can, it was a family farm and now the family is dead. No money to be made, so they probably won't get involved at all.
Very sad.
VERY SAD.
Are Mennonites same as Amish?......
I believe so. I think they were allowed to use some modern conveniences like cars with no chrome and such.
Similar, but not the same. Amish are an offshoot of the Mennonites (yes, that’s correct, not the other way around). They’re the doctrinal (and in most cases physical) descendants of the Anabaptists who fled Lutheran persecution in Europe.
America’s farms are some of the most dangerous places to work. Since family farms are not OSHA monitered, simple and logical things get overlooked.
Anywhere else, pits would be considered “confined space” and would require 1) a harness and breathing apparatus for each worker and b) somebody posted outside to call for help.
We had an entire family of males (grandpa, dad and three sons) die in Michigan about 15 years ago in this exact same situation.
Dreadful. May the victims rest in peace.
I use a mobile milking unit now...tow it out to the pasture...so I never bring the cows out of the pasture...no lagoon, no scraping manure, no smell...best investment I ever made
I’m from Michigan, and that is one of the cases I remember.
I’ve never seen one of those before, that sounds like a nice clean method except for the mud you must have to work in after a while.
Sorry, couldn't help myself.
This one falls in the prove it category.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.