Royal City, WA – A 37-year-old man was airlifted to a Tri-Cities hospital Wednesday afternoon after the telehandler he was driving reportedly lost its brakes and crashed into an apple orchard in rural Royal City, according to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
The crash occurred around 12 p.m. near Road 13-Southeast and Road B-Southeast. Deputies said the telehandler, a type of heavy-duty lifting vehicle commonly used in agriculture, traveled into the orchard at moderate speed before coming to rest among the trees.
According to the sheriff’s office, Royal Slope Fire-Rescue-EMS responded to the scene and treated the injured man before he was flown by air ambulance to the hospital. His current medical condition has not been released, and his name is being withheld pending further investigation.
Authorities have not said what caused the brakes to fail or if mechanical issues are suspected.
The crash remains under investigation by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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