Letter

A Sandpoint log truck driver, reported as critically injured after a July 2 crash outside Libby, Mont., has improved to satisfactory condition, according to a spokeswoman with a hospital in Seattle.

John Stevenson, 54, who was hauling for Regehr Logging in Naples, was flown to Harborview Medical Center from Kalispell Regional Medical Center after his rig rolled down a more than 100-foot embankment, taking out power lines and trees.

Craig Schultz, an emergency medical technician with Libby Volunteer Ambulance, was among rescue workers who freed Stevenson from the wreckage. Schultz claims a recent three-day training with ambulance volunteers and Libby volunteer firefighters helped tremendously with the critical situation. Stevenson was partially thrown through the windshield of the truck, which was covered with logs.

”He wasn't pinned really bad, but they had to stabilize the logs over the top of the truck,' Schultz said. 'We weren't sure how long he'd been there, but it was really important (to free him). His lungs were collasping.'

They used stablizing jacks to pull the logs up and chain them to nearby trees.

'We had to tear off the fenders (of the truck to get him out),' he said. 'It (the training) helped us out tremendously.'

According to Lincoln County Sheriff Lt. Roby Bowe, the accident was discovered by Flathead Electric workers when they were called about power outages at about 2:30 p.m. The crash was reported to authorities at about 3.

It took 45 minutes to free Stevenson.

'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 a 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 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 added this 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.