Former Noblesville basketball standout dies in farm accident

Hamilton County Reporter

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a farm accident resulting in the death of an Arcadia man.

Deputies were dispatched to the area of 274th Street and Ott Road in the northern part of Hamilton County near Arcadia shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Etchison

Detectives and deputies working the incident reported a local farmer harvesting a soybean field was decelerating to turn a corner in the field when Anthony Etchison, 47, Arcadia, attempted to climb aboard the step ladder of the John Deere combine harvester. While attempting to access the still-moving combine harvester in the dark and dusty field, Etchison fell and was unable to avoid being run over by the vehicle’s large tires. Etchison was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident.

Etchison was a four-year letter winner in basketball at Noblesville and was a member of the 1989, 1990 and 1991 sectional championship teams. He was named All-County four times and was the Hamilton County Player of the Year two times. The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame named him to the 2016 Silver Anniversary Team, and he is a member of the Hamilton County Basketball Hall of Fame.

A prayer vigil for Etchison was held Thursday evening at the football field at Hamilton Heights High School.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Arcadia Police Department, the Jackson Township Fire Department and Hamilton County Public Safety Communications throughout the incident.