Clallam County Sheriff’s Deputies, Olympic National Park Rangers, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies, Washington State Patrol, and Forks Hospital EMS personnel responded to scene. Steep terrain, rain showers and low lying fog prevented an airlift helicopter from landing at the site.

CPR was performed at the scene before Rodriguez was transported by ambulance to Forks Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the accident, as is the state Department of Labor and Industries, which investigates all workplace mishaps, agency spokeswoman Elaine Fischer said.

There was nothing suspicious about the incident. Although the cause of death is still under investigation it is believed Rodriguez was struck by a log.

Rodriquez was working on the ground, filling in at a position that was not his permanent post, and was working in a crew of seven for Engeseth Logging of Beaver.

Rodriguez’s death Monday was the second logging fatality this year in Jefferson County and seventh in the state of Washington.

 

Another logging related accident was reported on Tuesday  morning at approximately 8:35 a.m. when a 911 call came in to PenCom relaying that a timber feller had been struck by a dead tree while felling timber on commercial forest land East of Lake Ozette off the 27 E Rd near MP 16 on the Hoko/Ozette Rd. The victim, Josiah Rodman, of Port Angeles was felling trees on a steep hillside when he was struck.

He was carried up a steep 400 foot embankment by FD 5 personnel, sheriff’s deputies, and co-workers in a litter to the logging landing. He sustained serious back injuries and was transported via ambulance by Clallam County Fire District 5 (Clallam Bay /Sekiu) to Forks Community Hospital. The victim is 21 years old and a contract commercial timber feller. His condition is unknown at this time.