LIBBY — A 13-year-old northwestern Montana boy was lucky to escape permanent injury after his neck was pierced by a stick while he was sledding.
The Western News reports Dave Patterson of Libby was being pulled on a sled behind a pickup truck on New Year’s Eve when the sled veered to the side of the road. A 2-inch-thick branch buried in a snow berm went through his neck and came out through his triceps.
Patterson was flown to the hospital in Kalispell where two surgeons removed the stick.
Bobbie Patterson says her son didn’t damage any arteries, vital organs or nerves in the accident. She says he’s going to have a heck of a scar, but is expected to make a full recovery.