Woodstock man killed while unloading tractor, police say

A 60-year-old Huntley man known to have a love of John Deere machinery died Sunday while unloading a tractor from a trailer, police say.

The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District responded at 5:45 p.m. to a house in the 3400 block of Chukar Road, where a large crowd was gathering outside the home.

The man, whom a neighbor identified as John Hoffman, was unloading a John Deere tractor from a trailer near the driveway when the tractor rolled over him, McHenry County Sheriff's Deputy Sandra Rogers said in an email Monday.

Hoffman was pronounced dead at the scene.

The McHenry County Coroner's Office declined to comment on the situation and referred all questions to the sheriff's office.

Hoffman made name for himself through his restoration work with John Deere machinery, neighbor Robert Lackey said. The longtime Huntley resident had just returned home from the Sycamore Steam Show and Threshing Bee when the accident occurred, Lackey said.

"He was also a farmer, and his big thing was he collected John Deere tractors. ... He was actually very well known across the country for his work with John Deere restoration," Lackey said. "One heck of a nice guy."