Rock blasting injures woman

PRIEST RIVER - A woman suffered a broken arm and an injured leg Tuesday after being hit by a rock flung from a blasting operation at a rock quarry, Bonner County Sheriff Elaine Savage said.

The mishap occurred at about 6 p.m. at a private pit near the Les Schwab Tire Center on U.S. Highway 2 on the city's western outskirts.

The woman's name was not being released, although Savage said her injuries did not appear to be life-threatening. Savage said the woman was taken to Bonner General Hospital.

The woman was standing approximately 1,000 feet away from the explosion when she was hit by the blast debris, according to Savage. Deputies were confirming whether debris struck vehicles in the vicinity, including those of the North Idaho Drilling, which was conducting the blasting. “It was a pretty big blast,” she said.

The woman was among a group of onlookers which included relatives of people working at the surface mine, said Savage. The contractor had the requisite credentials to do the blasting.

Savage anticipates the accident will be reviewed by the federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration.