PAUDLING COUNTY, Ohio (WLIO) - A well known Paulding County farmer died in a tractor anhydrous tank accident on Sunday.
The Paulding County sheriffs office says just after 4 PM on Sunday, 59-year-old Keith Derck was found unconscious in the cab of a tractor that was pulling an anhydrous tank in a field that struck a large ditch. Anhydrous was leaking so the Cecil and several other fire departments were called in to control the leak before Derck could be removed safely.
Once it was safe first responders found that Derck was dead. The Paulding County coroner was called in to work with the Lucas County morgue to determine a cause of death and assist in the investigation.
June 29, 2026, Press Release from the Paulding County Sheriff's Office:
Crane Township, Paulding County, OH – At 4:11 P.M. today, the Sheriff’s Office received a call about a tractor pulling an anhydrous tank in a field that had struck a ditch in Section 22 in Crane Township. Crane Township - Cecil Fire Department arrived on scene to find anhydrous leaking from the tank, attached to a John Deere 9220, in a large ditch. The male operator of the tractor was unconscious in the cab.
Crane Township - Cecil Fire Department requested help from several surrounding fire departments to control the anhydrous leak. Once it was safe to remove the male from the tractor, first responders found 59-year-old Keith E. Derck deceased. Derck was a well-known farmer from Carryall Township, just outside of Antwerp in rural Paulding County.
The Paulding County Coroner was called to the scene to assist law enforcement with the investigation. The coroner will work with the Lucas County Morgue to determine cause of death.
Several fire departments and EMS were on scene to assist, along with Paulding County EMA.
No further information is expected to be released.
