Falls
Homeowner killed in fall from tree
A man was killed when he fell from a tree he was cutting April 20, 2025, in Athens, Georgia. The 70-year-old man was tied to a rope about 50 feet up in a tree when he slipped through the rope and fell, landing on his back. The man’s son found him unconscious and not breathing, […]
Man dies in fall
A man died in a fall from a pine tree April 14, 2025, in Fairmont, West Virginia. Jackie James Hess Jr., 65, of Fairmont, was trimming trees when he fell. Emergency responders were called, but Hess was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a WBOY report.
Worker dies in fall
A landscaper died in a fall March 9, 2025, in Tiburon, California. The man was trimming a tree at a residential property when he fell 60 feet, landing in a neighbor’s backyard. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a The Ark news report. It was unclear from the report whether the worker […]
Tree worker seriously injured in fall
A tree trimmer sustained serious injuries when they fell from a tree February 22, 2025, in Fresno, Calif. It was unclear from the report if the tree was 60 feet tall or if the worker fell 60 feet. The worker was transported to a local hospital, according to a CBS47 report. Due to the tree’s […]
Two men killed in fall from aerial lift
Two men were killed when they fell from the bucket or basket of an aerial lift while trimming trees January 11, 2025, in Galesville, Wisconsin. Douglas B. Poss, 63, of Menomonee Falls, and Ryan D. Poss, 61, of Winneconne, were in the lift when it tipped. The lift was on a slight slope, which caused […]
STRUCK BY OR AGAINST
Worker killed by falling limb
A worker was killed when he was struck by a tree limb May 29, 2025, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Aiden Hernandez, 19, of Woodland Park, Colo., died at the scene. No further information was available, according to a KRDO report.
Man dies in struck-by
A man died after being struck in the head by a log May 21, 2025, in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Stephen M. Gill, 36, of West Penn Township, in Schuylkill County, died when a person operating an excavator holding a tree rotated the equipment, striking Gill on the head, according to a The Morning Call report.
Worker struck and killed by oak-wilt-infected tree
A worker was killed by a falling tree May 14, 2025, in White Cloud, Minn. The 38-year-old worker was 60 feet from the work area and was walking back to the job from a lunch break when they were struck by the falling tree, which had been infected with oak wilt. The worker died at […]
Man injured in struck-by
A man was seriously injured when he was struck by a tree he was cutting May 12, 2025, in Gallant, Alabama. Justin Campbell, 42, was cutting the tree in his yard when it fell and struck his head. He was taken to a local hospital and was treated in the neuro ICU with serious injuries, […]
Man injured by cut branch
A man was injured when he was struck by a branch May 4, 2025, in Paynesville Township, Minnesota. Daniel Ruprectht 62, of Eden Valley, Minn., was cutting a large branch when it fell and struck him on the head. Ruprecht was taken to a local hospital, according to a WJON News report.
CAUGHT IN OR UNDER
Worker loses foot in caught-in or -under
A tree worker lost his foot when it was caught in a rope May 21, 2025, in Wallace, North Carolina. Bryson Wilkinson, 18, was working as a ground-worker trainee when his leg became caught in the rope, according to a WECT/Gray News report.
Property owner killed by falling tree
A man was killed when he was struck by a tree May 13, 2025, in Iowa County, Wisconsin. Keith J. Symon, 79, of Iowa County, was cutting logs with a tractor and a chain saw on his property. When he did not return home, officials searched the 80-acre property and found him. Officials believe the […]
Worker killed when caught under palm fronds
A man died after palm fronds fell on him while he was trimming a palm May 10, 2025, in Phoenix, Arizona. Jaime Yepiz, 43, who had been in tree work for 12 years, was trimming the 50-foot tree when the skirt of fallen palm fronds pinned him against the trunk of the tree. The Phoenix […]
Homeowner pinned in tree and injured
A man sustained minor injuries and was rescued when he became pinned by a branch at height March 11, 2025, in Wichita, Kansas. The homeowner was working about 35 feet up in the tree when he became pinned under a branch weighing more than 300 pounds. Firefighters were able to lift the branch and lower […]
Tree worker killed in chipper incident
A tree worker was killed when he was pulled into a woodchipper January 28, 2025, in Ocean Ridge, Fla. The man was an employee of a tree company working on the property of the town hall and the police department when the incident occurred, according to a WPEC 24 News report.
ELECTRIC SHOCK OR BURN
Worker electrocuted
A worker died by electrical shock May 25, 2025, in Southwest Miami-Dade, Florida. The worker was trimming a palm when he hit a power line. He was dead when emergency crews arrived, according to a WSVN 7 News Miami report.
Tree worker electrocuted
A tree worker died when they came in contact with power lines May 20, 2025, in Magnolia, Texas. The worker died at the scene, according to a KHOU report.
Person electrocuted
A person died by electric shock in a tree-trimming accident May 17, 2025, in Malibu, California. A tree trimmer knocked down a power line, and someone on the ground was electrocuted and died at the scene. It was unclear from the report if the victim was a bystander or another tree worker. The tree worker […]
Worker struck by lightning
A worker was struck by lightning May 1, 2025, in Pell City, Alabama. The worker was part of a tree crew and was in a bucket truck when he was struck. He was taken to an area hospital in critical condition, according to a WVTM 13 report
Worker injured by electrical shock
A tree worker was shocked by a downed power line April 3, 2025, in Sonoma County, California. The victim was working with a tree crew when a tree being taken down hit the power line. He was unresponsive and not breathing when emergency crews arrived. He was revived and taken to a local hospital, where […]
RESCUE
Climber rescued from height upside down
A climber was rescued after being stuck upside down in his harness May 12, 2025, in Woodfin, North Carolina. The worker was 30 feet in the air when the Weaverville Fire Department was called to assist with additional equipment. The worker was rescued without injury, according to a Woodfin Fire Department Facebook post.
Climber rescued from tree
A climber was rescued after his arm became stuck while up in a tree May 9, 2025, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Firefighters used a ladder to rescue the worker, and he was transported to the hospital with an arm injury, according to a WFMY News 2 report
Injured climber rescued by firefighters
An injured worker was rescued from 30 feet up in a tree March 25, 2025, in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts. The worker was harnessed and holding a chain saw. He appeared to be holding his arm. Rescuers reached the injured man by ladder and adjusted his harness so he could be lowered to the ground. He […]
Two workers rescued from lift
Two workers were rescued when the wheeled compact lift they were in tipped March 23, 2025, in Windsor Township, Pa. The workers were in the basket of the lift trimming trees when the equipment became unstable and began to tip. Rescue workers stabilized the equipment and were able to rescue the workers, according to a […]
Tree worker rescued from fall into crevice
A tree worker was rescued after falling 100 feet into a crevice January 29, 2025, in Bloomington, New York. The worker was part of a crew clearing trees along power lines when a branch broke and knocked him into the crevice. He suffered leg injuries and was treated by co-workers, who used ropes to descend […]
