WHO Involved: Joseph Abitz, 54, of Dubuque, IA
WHERE Incident Happened: County Hwy OO
What happened:Sheriff Clay Porter reports that on 03/29/2023, at approximately 5:02 P.M. Iowa County 911 received the initial call of an emergency incident and transferred the call to Richland County 911 regarding a male party that was involved in an logging accident. The witness stated that they were working on a log skidder and the hydraulic line broke, hitting the victim in the face, causing him to be unresponsive. The victim was wedged along the tire and the engine compartment of the log skidder when emergency personnel arrived on scene. Muscoda EMS, Fire and Police responded to the scene. Avoca Police was also notified of the incident and all responding units were directed to field where the accident took place. Emergency personnel were able to get the victim off the log skidder, where medical personnel began their medical treatment. The victim was transported to the Richland Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. During the investigation it was found that the victim was removing a pressure hydraulic accumulators and unknown to the victim one accumulator was still under pressure. While attempting to remove it the pressure caused the accumulator to come lose and hit the victim in the head.
Other Agencies Involved: Muscoda EMS, Muscoda Fire, Muscoda Police, and Avoca Police.