Tractor accident sends Hastings farmer to hospital

The St. Johns County local news desk at Historic City News has learned of an apparent accident at Singleton Farms in Hastings that sent one area man to the hospital with major injuries.

Deputy Jason Kroul reported that when he arrived at the farm on Cracker Swamp Road shortly before noon today, he found the victim, 79 year-old James C. Singleton, who had been pinned between a utility trailer and a conveyor.

Also at the scene was 50 year-old James Robinson of Hastings, who says that he had been backing a tractor and loaded trailer into a conveyor to be unloaded. When someone shouted at Robinson, he says that he stopped and pulled the tractor forward, according to Deputy Kroul’s report.

Once Robinson dismounted the tractor, he found Singleton; collapsed on the conveyor belt.

St. Johns County Fire Rescue responded to the scene and air-lifted the victim to Shands Hospital in Jacksonville for further treatment.

Detectives and Crime Scene Technicians were also called to the scene and their investigation is continuing.