A 27-year-old man was killed Saturday morning in a farm-related accident in the Helix area.
According to the Umatilla County Sheriff’s Office, Guy Simmer from Tygh Valley was crushed between two vehicles in a wheat field on Vansycle Road.
Simer and James Harris, 68, from the Pendleton area, were attempting to tow a semi-truck and trailer, driven by Simer, after it had become stuck on a hill. The sheriff’s office reported that the two men were trying to hook a tow strap between the semi-truck and a water truck they were using to pull the semi. As the men were connecting the two vehicles, the water truck rolled backward, striking both men. Simer was trapped between the two vehicles when they collided.
Umatilla County Deputy Jon Roberts was the first to arrive on the scene and found Simer severely injured and unresponsive. Roberts performed CPR on Simer until an Athena medical crew arrived, but Simer could not be revived.
Harris suffered injuries to his head, including broken bones on the left side of his face. He was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Walla Walla by ambulance and later transferred to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Wash., for further treatment. His condition is unknown at this time.
The case is under further investigation.
