Updated at 6:14 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
A 21-year-old man was killed in a logging accident yesterday north of Morton.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office reports it occurred about noon at a logging site about a mile and a half east of the 1100 block of state Route 7.
Tyler Bryan, 1992 – 2014
Aid responded and CPR was conducted for up to 45 minutes but the young man from Toledo died at the scene, Sgt. Rob Snaza said.
Snaza said the victim was working at the lower end of a slope about 1,500 feet from a landing zone when one of three logs being pulled up by a cable began to spin and struck him either in the head or chest.
The Lewis County Coroner’s Office identifies him as Tyler Bryan, of Winlock, as he recently moved there.
Bryan and his fiancee Sadie Firth just got their first home together last week, and are expecting a baby boy in April, according to a friend.
David Brosius who has known the Toledo native – who left high school to become a logger – for the past 10 years, compared his friend’s standing in the small town to that of the Duke brothers in Hazzard County.
“Everybody knew him, everybody loved him,” Brosius said. “He was a sweetheart.”
Brosius said two of Bryan’s co-workers who are close friends were at his side immediately after the accident yesterday.
Snaza from the sheriff’s office said he didn’t know who Bryan was working for.
An inspector from the Department of Labor and Industries went out there and is investigating today, according to a spokesperson for the state agency. The logging business is Brintech, based in Mossyrock, Elaine Fischer said.
It was just last month when another Toledo resident was killed while cutting timber. Sixty-three-year-old Alex Oberg was working alone at a site in the Toledo area on Jan. 16.
Oberg was not an employee, but the father of the owner of Dawn Til Dusk, based in Toledo, according to L&I. The sheriff’s office said a tree fell on Oberg as he was employing a “domino” tree falling technique.
Brosius upon getting word of Bryan’s death, set up an online donation account, knowing Firth will now be a single mother and thinking of the family’s funeral expenses, and, he said, because he felt like he wanted to do something to help.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
I watched grow-up all the baseball and football games, Toledo is a small town we all knew each other and took care of our children together. I will miss the days of that great smile, and the times you spent at our house while you were growing up. And you had a great family and great friends, I will miss you, I prayer for your family for thier pain, and you will be the angel to watch over your little guy forever… RIP and God Bless
A memorial fund has also been set up in Tyler Bryan’s name at Timberland Bank. You can make a donation at any Timberland Bank branch in person or you can mail your donation to: Timberland Bank PO Box 245 Toledo, WA 98591. The check can be made out to either Tyler Bryan Memorial Fund or Timberland Bank.
Such a sad thing to happen. I love you little brother, you will always be in my heart. I can’t believe this happened. Heidi, Ken, Mike and Kyle if you need anything, I’m always here for you. Sadie and baby Coen, I’m here for you as well. Just so heartbreaking and unbelievable.
Truly heartbreaking. My condolences to Tyler’s family, his fiancé and a son he’ll never see.
Best Friend of my Life .
very many cherished moments from tears to laughs together I will never forget I will hold them close to my heart till the end. You were one of a kind who lived every moment of your life like it was your last. My prayers go out to the Bryan family. No words could ever express the feeling. Love you brother. till we meet again. RIP
My thoughts and prayers are with his family, fiance and unborn baby boy. I pray for God’s peace and comfort to surround them as they go through this difficult time.
Very sad, he was just a kid.
Rip to one of the best friends anyone could have ever asked for. Thus is really tough.
He worked for brintech