Boy seriously hurt in rototiller accident

CAREYWOOD — A Bonner County youngster is reportedly undergoing treatment at a Spokane children’s hospital after being accidentally run over by a rototiller on Thursday afternoon.

Sagle Fire District officials declined to release the 4-year-old boy’s name, but said they have been advised by family members that he is being treated at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

A condition update could not be obtained on Friday because the victim’s name was not disclosed.

The accident was reported at 5:43 p.m., according to Bonner Dispatch records. It occurred on property off of Baker Road, a spur road which branches off Sunset Road. Emergency workers from the Sagle and Timberlake fire districts responded to the call, dispatch records said.

The boy was apparently in a field being tilled by his father, who was driving a 40-horsepower tractor, said Sagle Fire Capt. Jason Cordle. The tractor was pulling a rotary cultivator that had tines and measured 5 or 6 feet wide.

Cordle said the father looked behind and saw that he had run over the child, stopped immediately and summoned help.

“He was alert and oriented when we got there,” Cordle said of the victim. “He could answer questions and knew his name, but he was hurt pretty bad.”

Cordle said the boy had a possible skull fracture and facial lacerations. He was later told by family members that the boy had a fractured collarbone and neck bones.

The boy was able to move his hands and feet when he was being treated at the scene, Cordle said.