North Fork Twp, MN — April 29, 2025, One person wa skilled following an equipment accident that occurred at around 5:47 P.M. on County Road 201.

An investigation is underway following a farm equipment accident that left one person dead during the evening hours of April 29th. According to official reports, Eric Segaar and another person were working on a John Deere corn planter and were underneath it when the hydraulic system reportedly failed, causing it to fall on Segaar.

When first responders arrived on the scene, they were able to pull Segaar from underneath the planter where they found that he had sustained serious injuries and attempted life saving efforts however he ultimately succumbed to his injuries on site. At this time there has been no further information released from the accident, what caused they hydraulics to fasil, however this remains an ongoing investigation and more details may be released by authorities in the future.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a piece of heavy farm equipment unexpectedly fails and results in a fatality, there is often an assumption that the incident was an unfortunate mishap during routine work. But from a legal and investigative perspective, it's critical to go beyond assumptions and ask three essential questions—questions that help determine whether the incident was preventable and whether all contributing factors have been properly examined.

First, was there a thorough investigation into how the hydraulic system failed? The collapse of a hydraulic lift system is a serious event, and investigators should be examining the condition of the equipment, the maintenance history, and the precise configuration of the system at the time of the failure. That includes reviewing whether safety locks or blocks were in place and functioning, and whether any service or repair activities might have altered the equipment’s stability. These are foundational details in understanding how the failure occurred and whether it was the result of human error, a maintenance oversight, or something inherent in the equipment’s design.

Second, has anyone considered the possibility that a mechanical or design defect contributed to the collapse? Hydraulic systems are engineered to bear tremendous loads, but when they fail, the consequences are often severe. Investigators should be evaluating whether the failure was caused by a defect in the system’s components—such as valves, seals, or cylinders—or by a failure in the control mechanisms. It’s also worth considering whether the design provided sufficient safeguards to protect workers performing maintenance beneath the equipment. These are not just engineering questions; they have significant legal implications if the equipment did not function as it should under foreseeable conditions.

Third, has any available electronic or diagnostic data been collected from the equipment? While agricultural machinery may not always contain electronic control modules (ECMs) like modern vehicles, many newer models of large-scale farm equipment include onboard systems that log diagnostic information and error codes. These logs can provide valuable insight into whether a warning was issued, a hydraulic imbalance was detected, or if any system irregularities were recorded prior to the collapse. Accessing that data—if available—can be crucial in identifying exactly what the machine was doing in the moments leading up to the incident.

Fatal incidents involving heavy equipment demand more than procedural follow-up. They require a careful, disciplined approach to understand whether the machinery performed safely and as intended. By answering these three core questions, we can begin to build a clear picture of what happened and why—an essential step for the people affected and for ensuring safer outcomes in the future.