A 51-year-old Melrose man is hurt after a corn stalk chopper pinned him down and crushed his body Thursday morning. The Stearns County Sheriff’s Department says both the owner of the farm, Richard Imdieke and his employee Joe Leukam were underneath a corn stalk chopper, replacing a center bearing.

The corn stalk chopper was raised off the floor by a hydraulic hoist which lost pressure and shifted off the safety blocks and lowered onto Leukam’s chest. Officials say Leukam was unable to get out from beneath the chopper and as a result the machine crushed his chest. Leukam was brought to the hospital for treatment of his injuries.