Soo Line: Tractor Accidents Happen Too Often: Rusty Leymaster Shares His Story

 by SOO Greiman 

On the morning of June 7, a Cedar Falls farmer sat trapped between the seat and steering wheel of his International Harvester Model M tractor. Rusty Leymaster couldn’t even turn his head to see what was behind him—only feel the crushing force pushing down on his chest. 

What he would later learn is that a distracted driver rear-ended his tractor at a high rate of speed, slamming her car into the hay rake he was pulling and shoving the twisted metal into his back. The car then perched on top of the rake, further pinning Leymaster in place. 

“No,” he told me during a phone interview. “I had no idea what hit me. I was headed east down the highway, pulling the rake to a nearby field to rake hay. The top speed of an International M is around 17 or 18 miles per hour. As required, it had a slow-moving vehicle (SMV) sign mounted on the back. Then suddenly, I felt the force of a huge impact crash down on me. Believe me, you don’t want to be on an old tractor going 17 mph when someone hits you going over 60.” 

Now, four months later, Rusty is sharing his story in hopes of making drivers more aware of slow-moving farm vehicles on Iowa roads. He’s heard too many stories—cars, trucks, even semis hitting tractors—and knows firsthand how quickly things can go wrong. 

‘Distracted by the corn’ 

According to the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office and Cedar Falls Police Department, the crash occurred in the 8100 block of West First Street on a sunny Saturday morning. The 23-year-old woman, who was also heading east, later told authorities she had been momentarily “distracted by the corn.” There were no skid marks. 

Dazed, in pain, and struggling to breathe, Rusty remembers someone from the small crowd that had gathered coming over and asking if he could help. 

“I told him I was having problems breathing,” Rusty said. “He said, ‘Rest your head on my shoulder,’ so I did. Placing my head like that gave me some relief. He stayed there while everything got pulled off me. I don’t know who it was, but I hope he knows how much he helped.” 

It was also fortunate that a neighboring farmer recognized he could help and drove his John Deere tractor outfitted with a loader to the scene. He used it to lift the car and rake off his friend.

“Then someone with a blade came and cut me out of the tractor seat and rake parts still holding me down,” Rusty said. “I felt heat—it was uncomfortable—but it got me cut loose.” 

His oldest daughter Keri, who lives less than a mile away, arrived soon after and took his hand, holding it the entire time he was pinned. Moments later, his other daughter, Bailey, arrived as well. 

From presumed casualty to miracle survivor 

As a hospital helicopter carrying a paramedic crew hovered above the scene, they assumed the man on the tractor seat was deceased. But as they approached, Rusty let out a clear demand: “Get me out of here!” 

Cedar Falls Rescue quickly stepped in. After being cut free, Rusty was airlifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics with serious injuries. The driver of the Elantra was taken by ambulance to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. 

At the hospital, doctors confirmed he had three cracked ribs, a bruised lung, and a cracked vertebra. 

“The cracked ribs gave me a lot of pain. I was beat up all over and wearing a neck brace —but grateful they released me after 24 hours,” Rusty said. 

What meant the most to him afterward was the support he received. His 10-year-old grandson, Laykin, stayed with him day and night for nine days, helping him in and out of bed, and even putting on and taking off his socks. His daughters, Keri and Bailey, remained close by, offering constant care. 

Insurance headaches and a warning 

Even more frustrating than the accident itself? Learning the driver who hit him was uninsured. According to Rusty, this was the second time she’d been charged with driving without insurance; the first charge had been dismissed. 

During the insurance process, Leymaster discovered his policy didn’t cover all the unexpected costs—and he had to pay some expenses out of pocket. Now, he urges other farmers and rural residents to check their coverage, even when operating slow-moving vehicles.

“It’s a good idea to check with your insurance company to make sure your medical is covered when driving a tractor,” he said. 

Rusty was told that uninsured or underinsured motorists account for 30% of drivers on the road. The official number in Iowa is closer to 14.5%, according to the Insurance Information Institute—but the risk remains real. 

Counting blessings, not blades 

“It’s a miracle I wasn’t hurt worse,” he said, acknowledging the sharp edges on the hay rake. “I should’ve been skewered. I don’t know how to explain it except that someone upstairs was looking out for me.” 

Today, Rusty is feeling better and mostly pain-free. He’s back to farming and grateful to be alive. 

“I guess I was at the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said, laughing softly. “But someone told me, ‘It’s better to be seen than viewed.’ That accident made me change my perspective. I do count my blessings now.”