A South Dakota man who was clearing brush in northwest Iowa was killed Monday when a tree fell on him. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s office identified the man as 63-year- old James “Jim” Netley of Dakota Dunes.

The Sheriff’s Office and Plymouth County Coroner’s Office responded to the report of someone being injured around 7:30 Monday night. The location was on Highway Three at Ruble, a ghost town between Akron and Brunsville. The sheriff’s office said Netley’s death was being handled as an accident and no further investigation was anticipated.

By Joanne Glamm, KLEM, Le Mars