Worker hurt in Stimson mill accident

PRIEST RIVER — A Stimson Lumber Co. employee was injured in an industrial accident at the company’s mill on Tuesday morning.

Bonner County EMS Chief Jeff Lindsey said paramedics were summoned to the sawmill along the Pend Oreille River at 11:26 a.m., after receiving a report of a worker becoming entangled in a piece of machinery. Employees managed to free the man prior to the arrival of EMS and West Pend Oreille Fire personnel.

“It sounded like they were able to get the guy free,” said Lindsey.

The man was carried from a catwalk structure and stabilized, Lindsey said.

The worker, whose name was not released, was taken by ambulance to Priest River Airport and rendezvoused with a Life Flight Network helicopter, Lindsey said. He was flown to Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene for treatment, although Lindsey was not apprised of the man’s condition on Tuesday evening.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.