Meridian man hit, killed by falling tree in Idaho County while cutting firewood
A Meridian man is dead after he was hit by a falling tree in Idaho County over the weekend.
At around 6:50 p.m. Saturday, Connor Lee Washington, an 18-year-old Meridian resident, was killed along Forest Service Road 2109, according to a news release from the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office. The incident took place near the Seven Devils area.
Idaho County Coroner Cody Funke told the Idaho Statesman that Washington was in the area with friends cutting firewood when he was hit by the tree. Funke noted that Washington was not working for a logging or other company when the incident occurred.
“The Idaho County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest condolences to Washington’s family and reminds firewood gatherers to use extreme caution,” it said in the news release.
Washington’s death is at least the second timber-related fatality in Idaho this year.
In July, 30-year-old Council man Trevor Menter died after a logging accident in the Boise National Forest north of Garden Valley. Menter was struck by a log when it was being pulled uphill and hit a stump, causing the log to spin and hit Menter in the chest.
Menter’s death triggered an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The investigation was still open as of Tuesday, according to OSHA’s website.
