DAVIESS CO. – A Daviess County man was tragically killed Friday evening, May 23, 2025, when an agricultural spreader truck veered off State Road 57 and struck him while he was working in his yard.
At approximately 5:03 p.m., Daviess County Central Dispatch received a report of a traffic accident on SR 57 near Crestwood Drive. The report indicated that a spreader truck had run off the roadway and hit a tree.
Authorities identified the deceased as 77-year-old Daniel J. Ritterskamp.
Officials determined that 68-year-old Dennis P. Toy, an employee of Helena Agri Enterprise, LLC, was operating a John Deere 800R agricultural spreader northbound on SR 57. For unknown reasons, the vehicle left the roadway. As the John Deere 800R traveled through a yard, it struck three trees before coming to a rest. Mr. Ritterskamp, who was maintaining his yard at the time, was run over and entrapped underneath the front end of the spreader.
Mr. Ritterskamp was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office was assisted in the incident by the Washington Township Fire Department, Daviess County Coroner’s Office, Daviess Community Hospital Ambulance Service, Washington City Fire, Washington City Police, and Briggeman’s Towing. The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing.
