~ Wesley Hedrick ~

Martin W. Hedrick, Jr., 29, of Camptonville, died Tuesday evening at a Chico hospital as a result of massive head injuries he sustained in a logging accident Friday morning.

Mr. Hedrick's father, a longtime resident of Grass Valley, told The Union today his son was hit in the head by a tree limb while he was bucking a log already on the ground.

The senior Mr. Hedrick said the wind was blowing very hard and apparently caused the small tree nearby to fall.  The accident occurred south of St. Bernard Lodge on private property about 10 miles west of Chester in Plumas County.

Mr. Hedrick was taken to a Chester Hospital and later transferred by ambulance to Chico.  According to the Butte County Coroner’s report, he never regained consciousness.

Mr. Hedrick, a native of Quincy, was well known in this area for his skill in ax throwing and "Jack and Jill" bucking competition at the logger's Olympics.  He participated in the various events along with his father and his wife, Mildred (Tudy).

Other survivors include is two-year-old daughter, Chelsea; his mother, Frieda; and sisters, Jill Harvery, Rosaline Hedrick and Tina Harrison, all of the local area.  Arrangements are pending in the Hooper and Weaver Mortuary in Grass Valley.