Log truck driver is doing well after crash

A Sandpoint, Idaho, log truck driver, who was reported as critically injured after a July 2 crash outside Libby, 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, Idaho, was flown to Harborview Medical Center from Kalispell Regional Medical Center after his rig rolled down a more than 100-foot embankment on Bobtail Road, 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 exercise 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 collapsing.”

They used stabilizing 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.”

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. A helicopter landed within 100 yards of the crash site to transport him to the hospital.

Steve Lauer, assistant fire marshall with LVFD, also agreed the training in June helped free Stevenson. It was done through Montana State University Fire Training School, with members of Stevensville Fire Department doing the training and MSU providing the equipment.