Falling Tree Kills Logger In Cda Area Man’s Death Is Seventh Logging Accident This Year

A 45-yearold St. Maries man died Monday morning in a logging accident east of Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Dennis “Reed” Davis was felling small cedar trees off Diamond Road in the Turner Bay area when one fell on his head and chest after becoming untangled. Rescuers found Davis trapped under the tree.

Davis was taken to Kootenai Medical Center where he was pronounced dead, said Kootenai County sheriff’s Capt. Ben Wolfinger.

An autopsy will be done to determine the exact cause of death, Wolfinger said.

Deputies who responded to the scene said the tree apparently was hung up before it snapped back and hit Davis with the butt end. Rescuers had to cut the tree off Davis while he lay in the snow.

Davis and his uncle were working for a private contractor when the accident occurred about 9 a.m., Wolfinger said.

Davis’ death is the seventh fatal accident in North Idaho woods or lumber mills this year.

Logging claims an average of four lives a year in Idaho. Half of the deaths are from trees falling on people and half are equipment related.

Just last month, a felled tree rolled down a hill near Enaville and pinned a logger against another tree. The 43-year-old Priest River man had been cutting a log along Bear Creek Road when he was crushed.

A St. Maries man was killed in May while skidding trees near Carlin Bay.

, DataTimes