MADISON, MO : Neighbors rally around Madison man injured in farming accident on Saturday, November 5th 2016

It turned into an old-fashioned, neighbor-helping-neighbor undertaking when a farming accident landed Ordell Darst, 74, of rural Madison, in the hospital.

Darst was found Saturday, Nov. 5, around 4:30 p.m. on the ground by the front tire of his combine. Rick Jones was driving by, saw him on the ground and stopped to help.

Local first responders were notified and came to the scene, followed shortly by the Monroe County Ambulance District.

“We didn't know who it was until we arrived on scene,” said Madison West Monroe Fire Chief Larry Jones. “We didn't think about it being Ordell until it was over. We had a patient — the first responders did what they needed to do.”

Darst was apparently on the ground for around 4.5 hours before Rick Jones spotted him, but Darst reportedly was awake and talking coherently.

Air Evac arrived and transported Darst to the University Hospital in Columbia, where it was determined he had broken several bones, including bones in his shoulder, arm, pelvis and ribs.

“They think Darst stopped the combine, came out of the cab onto the platform and passed out going over the railing, hitting the ground nine to 10 feet below,” said Everett Jones, a farmer who lives near Darst.

It is harvest time, and, for many, this is a bountiful harvest — a bumper year. Farmers understand the seriousness of not completing a harvest. Tina Bird, a farmer who owns land near Darst, said her family began talking about Darst's accident and what was going to happen.

Something needed to be done to help get Ordell's crops harvested, she said.

“On Sunday, Jim Jones called and said there was going to be a meeting at his house,” Bird said.

As a result of that meeting, four combines later converged on one of Darst's fields. Rick Jones, Nathan Spickerman, Jason Alexander and Ernie Bird drove them. Semi trucks from James Everett Jones, Mike O'Bannon and David Williams also assisted in the harvest.

Rick Jones' wife, Gail Jones, said, “Plans were to continue the harvest Monday with up to seven combines.”

Combining came to a halt due to a bit of rain. Once the ground was ready to run on again, five combines, driven by Jason and Keith Alexander, Ernie and Robbie Bird and Everett Jones, were back at it Wednesday and Thursday, combining Darst's remaining bean fields. They were assisted by trucks hauling grain from David Williams and Everett Jones.

Since the accident, Darst has undergone surgery to repair his pelvis. He likely has many months of recuperation ahead.

Tina Bird reported Tuesday that she had heard Darst was in stable condition.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Monitor-Index received a letter regarding the incident from Darold and Cathy Evans and their daughter, Kim Evans Coates.

“Love thy neighbor is still very alive and well in Monroe County,” they wrote.

Source :
Neighbors rally around Madison man injured in farming accident