Farming accident kills Prineville man

A Prineville man died in a farming accident Monday after he was struck by several bales of hay, according to a release from the Crook County Sheriff’s Office.

Gordon Evan Stroebel, 77, was loading hay onto his truck at a location on Northwest Peppermint Lane in Prineville on Monday afternoon, when the hay load apparently shifted. Three bales fell from the truck and struck Stroebel.

Sheriff’s deputies along with Crook County Fire and Rescue were unable to revive Stroebel, who was already dead before authorities arrived.

Rescue at popular swimming hole

A foreign-exchange student saved the life of a boy at the Prineville Reservoir State Park on Sunday evening, according to a release from the Crook County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office, along with Crook County Fire and Rescue, were dispatched to a swimming area of the park at around 6 p.m. Sunday following the report of a near drowning. Upon arrival, paramedics treated a boy who was later transported to St. Charles Bend by air ambulance for more treatment. The name and age of the boy have not been released.

Authorities determined the boy was swimming with two friends when he panicked and started to pull the other two under water. The boys started yelling for help, at which time Leandre Nicolai, 18, a foreign-exchange student from Belgium, swam to the group. Nicolai was able to find the boy, who had gone underwater, and pulled him to the nearby docks.

The condition of the boy was unknown Monday.

— From staff reports