Teenager Injured When Pinned by Tractor

A teenager was injured Tuesday afternoon when the tractor he was operating overturned, pinning him and injuring one of his legs.

The young man injured is 18-year-old Austin Huebner of Effingham.

(THE OVERTURNED TRACTOR AT THE SCENE)

The incident happened about 2:30pm on a hillside in Mini Hills Subdivision on the northeast side of Effingham. Huebner was clearing property along a ridge line when the tractor slid sideways. The tractor traveled 10 to 15 feet down the hillside before coming to rest. A tow truck from Heartland Towing was used at the top of the hill to move the tractor away from Huebner and stablize the unit so it wouldn't fall farther, then got the unit back on its wheels. Effingham fire and police officers and crews from Abbott EMS then were able to free Huebner.

(THE AIR EVAC HELICOPTER ARRIVING ON SCENE)

Huebner suffered damage to his lower leg, so was airlifted from the scene by Air Evac and taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana for treatment.

Effingham Fire Chief Bob Tutko said a firefighter was injured in trying to assist at the scene, and was also taken for treatment.