Man Hurt in Skidder Accident

An accident yesterday just south of the Wilkes county line off Highway 16 South has left a man with severe injuries. Alexander county dispatch reports Wayne Shumate was working on a skidder in the woods and was ejected from the skidder during the accident, breaking his neck and causing other injuries. He was airlifted to Charlotte and underwent emergency surgery last night. Hosptial officials haven't released his current condition. Alexander county authorities say the sequence of events leading up to the accident isn't really clear.