Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a tree stand accident that occurred Thursday afternoon in DeKalb County.

At approximately 4:30 p.m., officers and emergency personnel responded to the area near the intersection of County Road 17 and County Road 28 in the town of Auburn for a report of a hunter falling from a tree stand.

Upon arrival on scene, officers discovered that Nicholas Pranger, 28, of Ashley, was attempting to climb onto his tree stand when he fell. Pranger was wearing full body harness; however, it was not fully connected when he fell.

Pranger was transported to Parkview Regional Medical Center in stable condition with a back injury. The incident is still under investigation.

Indiana Conservation Officers would like to remind all hunters to wear a full-body safety harness when hunting from an elevated hunting platform and to stay connected.

Assisting agencies include Corunna Fire Department and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department.

To view all DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.