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8/18/2010

Salina Journal

QUINTER — A 3-year-old Quinter boy died Tuesday when he was run over by the tire on a center pivot irrigation system.

Gove County Sheriff Allan Weber said Samuel Flora took his son, Ethan, to work with him Tuesday morning on the family farm about four miles southeast of Quinter. His task was to work on the irrigation system.

Samuel Flora told the sheriff he put his son on the back of his pickup, but Ethan was curious about the pivot.

“Like any farm kids, they’re gonna be inquisitive,” Weber said. “Sam had told him to stay in the pickup. He got out several times.”

Flora was mechanically advancing the center pivot, making it move as fast as it could go, Weber said.

“Sam said he was picking up tools when he turned around and noticed that Ethan had been caught under the pivot tire,” Weber said.

Flora was unable to free his son before the tire rolled over him, the sheriff said.

Flora drove Ethan to the Gove County Medical Center in Quinter, where he was pronounced dead.

The sheriff’s office was informed at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Weber said. He called the accident “tragic,” and said the family was having a difficult time.