Man in his 70s injured in tractor accident near Fruitland

A man in his 70s was injured Monday afternoon when he was pinned under a tractor on private property, said Andy Renner, assistant chief of the Fruitland Area Fire Protection District.

Authorities were not releasing the man's name or the severity of his injuries early Monday evening.

Renner said the man was loading bales of hay using a tractor when it fell on top of him. It took rescue personnel about 45 minutes to lift the machinery with air bags, he said.

Renner said the accident victim was conscious and talking when he was taken by helicopter to Saint Francis Medical Center about 5:20 p.m. Crews from the Cape Girardeau Fire Department assisted with the rescue.