Cut Bank man dies in skid-steer accident at Echo Lake

A Cut Bank man died on Saturday after a Bobcat skid-steer loader he was operating reportedly malfunctioned.

According to a news release from Flathead County Sheriff Chuck Curry, Raymond Christianens, 55, was apparently operating the loader at his cabin on Echo Cabin Loop Road near Bigfork. The bucket was up in the air when the hydraulics failed, causing the bucket to pin Christianens between the bucket and the frame.

A neighbor called 911 at about 4 p.m. after seeing Christianens pinned there.

When emergency personnel arrived, Christianens was unresponsive but resuscitation efforts did result in establishing a pulse.

But after he was taken to Kalispell Regional Medical Center, he was pronounced dead, Curry said.

Reporter Scott Shindledecker may be reached at 758-4441 or sshindledecker@dailyinterlake.com.