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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – A 39 year-old Napoleon farmer was killed Monday afternoon when corn broke lose from a grain bin he was unloading smothered him.

According to the Bismarck Tribune, Charles Sperle died in the yard of his farm 4 1/2 miles Southeast of Napoleon. Logan County Chief Deputy Sheriff Steve Engelhardt stated that Sperle was using a grain vacuum to unload the grain bin when a funnel was formed, broke loose and flooded out of the door. A trucker tried to pull Sperle out by an arm, but was unable to budge him.

It was estimated that Sperle was covered by the corn for roughly 20 to 25 minutes before responders were able to get to him. The accident remains under investigation by the Logan County Sheriff’s Department.