Sandpoint logger critically injured in crash
—Photo by PAUL SIEVERS Investigator Ben Amin walks in front of the cab of a logging truck that was destroyed in an accident off Bobtail Road outside Libby Wednesday. Trucker John Stephenson of Sandpoint was flown from the scene to Kalispell Regional Medical Center and then to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle
LIBBY, Mont. — The driver of a logging truck was in critical condition after his rig tumbled down a 100-foot embankment outside of Libby Wednesday, taking out power lines and trees.
It took 45 minutes to free trapped driver John Stevenson of Sandpoint from the rig off Bobtail Road. He was flown to Kalispell Regional Medical Center and was being transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and was not expected to arrive until late Wednesday.
Stevenson was hauling logs for Regehr Logging in Naples.
“I hiked down to the bottom and looked at the truck and it was really bad — a scary ride,” said Regehr trucker Gerald Unruh of Bonners Ferry. “It tore the cab clear off the frame of the truck.”
Unruh an hour earlier had helped Stevenson tie and wrap up his full load.
“I was still getting loaded when I heard them say there had been a wreck. We didn’t know which truck it was at first, but then they said it was John,” Unruh said.
According to Unruh, Stevenson may have been in too high of a gear when he went over the bank and hill. “I’m just supposing maybe he came over the hill in too high a gear and then he had to use his brakes too hard and got them hot,” he said. “That’s just my theory.
“I don’t know what kind of shape his brakes were in or if he had them adjusted up, but (his truck) didn’t appear to be too well maintained,” Unruh added.
According to Lincoln County Sheriff Lt. Roby Bowe, the accident was discovered by Flathead Electric workers when they were called about power outages.
A little before 3 p.m., the company noticed the logging truck with a full load had crashed. That was about a half hour after the accident.
According to Bowe, an alert was called in and a helicopter landed within 100 yards of the crash site to transport the patient.
“He had some serious injuries because he was immobile for so long,” said Bowe. “He was talking, but he had serious injuries.”
Stephenson was one of six drivers who were hauling logs to Washington for a logging sale in Usk.
The owner of the trucks is Randy “RC” Powers of Sandpoint.
Unruh said it is the worst wreck he has seen with the company in his eight years of employment.
“There have been a couple of wrecks but nothing like this,” said Unruh.
Assisting on the scene was Libby Volunteer Ambulance, Libby Volunteer Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service. The Montana Department of Transportation investigated.