Olivia man injured Monday in Bird Island grain elevator

An Olivia man was injured Monday afternoon after falling inside a grain elevator.

On July 19, at 1:31 PM, the Renville County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting an injured person at the United Farmers Coop on Main Street in Bird Island. The caller reported an employee, Matthew Rice, age 26, of Olivia, was working inside the main elevator had fallen several stories and was now trapped inside.

Responders located Rice inside the main elevator about 40 to 50 feet below where he had been working. Rice was extricated from the building, lowered to the ground, then airlifted from the scene to the North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale with severe injuries.

Assisting Agencies included the Bird Island Fire Department and Medical Response Unit, Olivia Ambulance Service, Olivia Area Technical Rescue Team, Redwood Falls Fire Department, and North Memorial Air Care.