A Pierce County Road Operations employee suffered a serious leg injury Friday when struck by a falling tree. Shawn Rydberg was part of a two-man crew clearing debris from a road right of way in the Lake Tapps area when the incident occurred.

Rydberg and Randy Fischer had just finished cutting up a tree across the roadway near the intersection of Jenks Point and West Tapps Highway.

Fischer took the chainsaw back to the nearby truck when he heard the tree snap. He yelled a warning to Rydberg, who looked up and moved just enough to escape the full force of the falling tree. He was struck below the knee and suffered multiple leg fractures.

“The injury was serious, but it could have been much worse,” said Bruce Wagner, Road Operations manager. “We are hopeful Shawn will have a full recovery and come back to work at the earliest possible time.”

Rydberg was in surgery late Friday at St. Joseph Medical Center.