Ernst Baxmann is a hero, says International Forest products (Interfor) logging engineer Aaron Gunther. The company agreed without hesitation and stepped up with a way to thank him.
It was in early December that Baxmann was driving his personally-owned logging truck, fully loaded, when he met a jeep that had crossed the centre line. Because of Baxmann’s driving expertise, both he and the female driver of the Jeep are alive today.
“Ernst saved a lady’s life in Greenwood before Christmas by wiping out his own logging truck and could have easily either seriously hurt or killed himself doing it,” Gunther said.
The driver of the Jeep had to be extricated from her vehicle and was taken to Boundary Hospital for precautionary reasons. She was issued a violation ticket under the Motor Vehiclie Act for undue care and control of the vehicle.
ICBC is now involved and Baxman’s truck is a write-off. He has picked up employment in the meantime, but the truck was his livelihood.
“We here at Interfor Grand Forks thought this was a heroic act so, although it doesn’t replace his truck, we gave him a little recognition for himself, his wife and kids,” Gunther said.
Interfor, with assistance from Big White Resort, recently presented Baxmann with a certificate for accommodation and resort activites at Big White valued at $1,500!