Man dies in logging accident last week

— Samuel Starnes, 21, of Huntsville was killed in a logging accident near Coon Hollow Road west of Decatur the morning of May 18, according to the Benton County Sheriffs Office.

Starnes was cutting timber at the bottom of a ravine when a tree fell on him and crushed him, Decatur Fire ChiefDavid Flynt said later that afternoon.

The Decatur, Maysville and Gentry fire departments and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office responded to the call around 9 a.m., Flynt said. Ambulances from Gravette and Bentonville and the AirEvac helicopter also responded, he said.

Starnes was already dead when first responders arrived on the scene, Flynt said. Because ofthe remote location where the accident occurred, it took about two hours and the combined effort of about 25 people to recover Starnes’ body, he said.

Starnes was working with three other people from Long Valley Timber of Huntsville when the accident occurred, Flynt said. His death was ruled accidental, according to Doug Gay, public information officer for the Sheriffs ’s Office.

News, Pages 3 on 05/26/2010