Leader Staff, news@ptleader.com

A Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputy sustained injuries Sunday, April 2, while assisting at the scene of a minor motor vehicle accident just outside Port Townsend.

At about 5:25 p.m., Capt. Mike Stringer and other deputies responded to a noninjury traffic collision at the intersection of Old Fort Townsend Road and Otto Street, in the unincorporated area of Port Townsend, according to a press release from the sheriff’s office.

A vehicle had been driven off the road and struck one of two guide wires anchoring a power pole to the ground, severing it. The attachment point for the wire was a large steel rod, approximately 4 feet in length, exposed aboveground. Unknown to Stringer, the steel rod was bent over and under extreme tension below the vehicle, according to the release.

Stringer was helping remove the vehicle by pushing from the front as the tow truck driver was attempting to free the vehicle from the soft dirt. As the vehicle moved backward, driving off of the steel rod, it sprung up and struck Stringer in the chest and face, according to the press release.

Paramedics from East Jefferson Fire Rescue were summoned and stabilized Stringer before taking him to Jefferson County International Airport. There, they were met a helicopter from Airlift Northwest, which flew him to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

Stringer remains at Harborview, where he is recovering from his injuries.

“I want to thank EJFR Chief Gordon Pomeroy and his staff for their stellar service to help one of our deputies,” Sheriff Dave Stanko said in the press release. “In our rural community, we must work together to send our deputies, police officers and firefighters home safe to their families. My primary goal is to protect our community and send every deputy home safe each night.”