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Man, 34, is killed in farm accident
By CARRIE JOHNSON, Times Staff Writer HERNANDO -- A local farmer and former National Hot Rod Association mechanic was killed Saturday when he was crushed between a front end loader and his pickup truck. Keven Van Ness, 34, one of the owners of Van Ness Groves Farm in Hernando , damaged the front end loader clearing property at 1876 N Florida Ave. (U.S. 41) and was attempting to repair the machine when the accident occurred, said Ronda Hemminger Evan, a spokeswoman for the Citrus County Sheriff's Office. He was found by his brother, Walter Randall Van Ness, about 11 a.m. Saturday and declared dead at the scene of the accident. Evan said authorities are still unsure how Van Ness became trapped. The pickup truck was found in first gear and the front end loader was in reverse, she said. "One of the two vehicles rolled," she said. "We just don't know which one right now." Van Ness was a Citrus County native and graduated in 1986 from Citrus High School. For years he had worked as a mechanic and pit crew member for several professional drag racing teams. But he gave up the pursuit last year to help operate the Van Ness family farm after the death of his father, Glenn. "He died in a place he loved," said Ken Fair, Keven Van Ness' friend for more than 20 years. "It's a very unfortunate thing and he's way too young to be taken from us this early." Van Ness was pursuing a degree in environmental biological engineering from the University of Florida and commuted every day between Gainesville and Hernando, juggling his education with his responsibilities on the farm. "He worked really hard. He was the kind of person who never let you down," Fair said. As an auto mechanic, Van Ness worked for several prominent drag racers, said Richard Hogan, a longtime friend and colleague. In 2000, Van Ness' team won the National Hot Road Association Top Fuel Drag Racing championship. Nicknamed "Smiley" for his ever-present grin, Van Ness also loved building and operating air boats, said his sister, Christine Waller. A viewing will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Hooper Funeral Home in Inverness. A funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Hernando United Methodist Church. In other news: -- A 47-year-old Beverly Hills man was sent to the hospital Saturday after he was bitten by what authorities believe was a pygmy rattlesnake. Anthony Chirichella contacted the Sheriff's Office about 1:15 p.m. Saturday to report the snakebite. By the time a deputy arrived at the residence on N Buffalo Drive, Chirichella's left hand had become extremely swollen, said Evan, the sheriff's spokeswoman. Chirichella had trapped the snake underneath a glass jar, and the deputy identified it as a pygmy rattlesnake, a gray to reddish snake with brown and black blotches along the midline of the back. The deputy insisted Chirichella seek immediate medical attention. He initially refused because he said he had no insurance, Evan said. After the deputy insisted, Chirichella eventually contacted his brother, who took him to Seven Rivers Community Hospital. Chirichella's condition was not available Tuesday. -- Carrie Johnson can be reached at 860-7309 or cjohnson@sptimes.com.
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