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February 12

Unity man dies after Thorndike logging accident

By Beth Staples Staff Writer

THORNDIKE — A Unity man died Saturday shortly after firefighters extricated him from beneath a tree that had fallen on him while he was cutting wood off the Parsons Valley Road.

Clair Lewis, a well-known Unity businessman and Mason, succumbed to injuries at MaineGeneral Medical Center’s Thayer Campus, according to the Waldo County Sheriff’s Office.

Detective Jason Bosco and Deputy Gerry Lincoln are investigating the incident.

Thorndike Fire Chief Peter Quimby said Lewis called his wife, Mary on his cellphone after Saturday morning's accident and that she summoned help.

Quimby said firefighters received a page at 10:10 a.m. notifying them that a logger was wedged beneath a tree near Lewis gravel pit.

Lewis, 75, had been using a chain saw to cut a tree on his wooded property off Parsons Valley Road. The tree that Lewis was cutting toppled onto another tree, causing the second tree to fall and land on him from behind, Quimby said.

Lewis’ upper body was pinned by limbs, rather than by the 10-inch-diameter trunk, Quimby said, adding that Lewis appeared to have injured his back and a leg.

Five firefighters, four members of the Unity ambulance crew and about a half-dozen neighbors who heard about the accident came to the scene, Quimby said.

Quimby said Lewis, who was wearing protective gear, was conscious and talking with rescuers during the hour-long extrication.

Quimby said the Unity ambulance’s driver maneuvered along the icy logging road to the site and transported Lewis to MaineGeneral Medical Center’s Thayer Campus.

Beth Staples — 861-9252
bstaples@centralmaine.com

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