A 58-year-old man died Monday morning after becoming trapped inside a grain elevator in downtown Hereford, according to city officials.
Emergency crews were dispatched around 9 a.m. on July 28 to the 100 block of South Main Street after receiving a report of a man who had fallen into a grain elevator. Upon arrival, responders discovered that the man, later identified as German Alvarez Rios, had become entrapped in corn inside the structure.
Despite immediate and extensive rescue efforts by the Hereford Police Department, Hereford Fire Department, and Hereford EMS, Rios was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was recovered just over three hours later, at approximately 12:30 p.m.
Additional support during the operation came from the Deaf Smith County Sheriff’s Office, various departments within the City of Hereford, and members of the local community.
Hereford Fire Marshal Todd Murray confirmed that Rios fell into the grain around 9:30 a.m., though initial emergency calls were received shortly beforehand. The circumstances surrounding how Rios fell into the elevator are still under investigation, but incidents like this are unfortunately not uncommon in the grain industry.
Grain entrapment occurs when a person becomes submerged in flowing grain, such as corn or wheat, and cannot escape without help. It is often deadly due to the speed and pressure with which the grain can engulf a person. According to safety experts, victims can become trapped in seconds and suffocate within minutes if not rescued promptly.
Grain elevators—large storage facilities used to hold and move grain—are essential to the agriculture industry but also pose serious hazards. Rios’s death highlights the risks faced by workers in agriculture and the importance of rigorous safety procedures in such environments.
City officials extended their condolences to Rios’s family and thanked all agencies and individuals who assisted in the recovery operation. No further details about Rios’s employment status or the ownership of the elevator were immediately released.
