An Oregon wildland supervisor, seriously injured while cutting down a Christmas tree, is recovering in a trauma center.
Dana Turner was leading a team of 15 forestry firefighters cutting down a 70-foot fir -- selected to be the state's official Christmas tree -- when things went awry.
During the operation, the tree came crashing down onto Turner, leaving her with a crushed femur, severe back trauma, facial injuries and road rash, KPTV reported.
She was flown by LifeFlight helicopter to a trauma center. During surgery, rods, plates and screws were inserted from hip to knee.
The tree is now standing in the rotunda of the state capitol building awaiting to be decorated.
Forestry officers are investigating to determine what went wrong.
Turner a Kentucky native, moved to Oregon to be a firefighter, and worked her way up to wildland supervisor.
Her friends and co-workers said she was driven, a hard worker and fiercely independent.
