State Police Conducting Death Investigation

Georgetown - The Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit is currently conducting an investigation of an apparent accidental drowning of a man operating a farm tractor near a tax ditch.

Preliminary investigation revealed first responders were called to the area near a tax ditch behind 18642 County Seat Highway Georgetown, around 6:45 p.m. this evening, Wednesday, July 15, 2015, where they located a male subject deceased. Kendall B. Hastings, 47, of Georgetown was operating an older model 8N Ford Farm Tractor cutting brush, along a deep water filled tax ditch approximately 1/4 mile behind his residence when the right rear tire of the tractor slipped off the steeply angled ditch bank. This caused the entire tractor to overturn onto it's top, trapping the victim underwater.

The Delaware Division of Forensic Science was contacted and responded to the scene in order to remove the body. An autopsy will be conducted in an attempt to determine the cause and manner of death.

The Collision Reconstruction Unit is continuing their investigation into this incident.