Farming company sued after worker killed by combine

A Madison County woman says her husband was killed on the job when he was run over by a tractor.

Linda Braundmeier, individually and on behalf of the estate of Herbert Braundmeier, filed a lawsuit Nov. 28 in Madison County Circuit Court against HBS Farms Ltd.

According to the complaint, Herbert Braundmeier was working for Kaufman Truck Service in September 2010. His job was to drive the trucks being filled by corn from HBS Farms' harvest. An HBS Farms employee was allegedly driving a combine filled with corn and pulled alongside a truck to unload the haul.

Linda Braundmeier claims her husband was standing behind the combine when the driver allegedly put the tractor in reverse and ran over him. Braundmeier says the combine crushed Herbert's neck, killing him.

Braundmeier is suing for her husband's wrongful death. She accuses HBS Farms of negligence, claiming its employee failed to look behind the combine or give any warning before reversing the tractor. She is asking for an undetermined amount of money in damages plus court costs.

Attorneys Bill T. Walker, of Granite City, and James E. Parrot, of St. Louis, are representing Braundmeier.

Madison County Circuit Court Case No. 11-L-1260.