Falls
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 […]
Bucket operator seriously injured in fall
A bucket operator was seriously injured in a fall January 7, 2025, in Waupaca, Wisconsin. The bucket operator was reportedly working without fall protection when the saw became lodged in the tree. As the crane operator over-tensioned, the pick popped off the spar. The cutter held on to the stuck saw and was lifted out […]
Worker seriously injured in fall
A tree-company owner was seriously injured in a fall December 18, 2024, in Issaquah, Washington. Dustin Gerstner, of Bothell, Wash., and a 15-year arborist, was 20 feet up in a large cedar he planned to cut. He moved to a neighboring maple for safety and reported that he was watching the cedar when he felt […]
STRUCK BY OR AGAINST
Man killed in struck-by
A man was killed while helping a neighbor take down a tree March 29, 2025, in West Warwick, Rhode Island. The tree fell on the victim, pinning him. Emergency personnel declared the man dead at the scene, according to an NBC 10 News report
Homeowner killed by cut tree
A homeowner was killed when he was struck by a tree he was cutting March 29, 2025, in Jefferson County, Alabama. Pablo Nunez, 45, was cutting the tree at his home. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to an AL.com report.
Worker injured by cut tree
A man was cutting a tree when it sprung back and fractured his leg March 27, 2025, in Northfield, Mass. The man was transported via ambulance to a helicopter and was then brought to a hospital, according to a Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM) report.
Tree cutter dies in struck-by
A worker died in a struck-by March 19, 2025, in Kaysville, Utah. Santos Baudilio Lopez Perez, 49, was struck by the top of a tree he was cutting while suspended 30 feet in the air. He was held up by his harness, and first responders were able to bring him to the ground. He was […]
Worker rescued after pinned aloft
A tree worker was rescued from 35 feet up in a tree after he was struck and pinned by a limb March 5, 2025, in Greenville, South Carolina. Firefighters responded with ladder trucks, and a saw technician from the city of Greenville’s Public Works Department was able to communicate in Spanish with the worker and […]
CAUGHT IN OR UNDER
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.
Climber dies under palm fronds
A worker died when he was trapped 30 feet up while trimming palm fronds October 17, 2024, in Bakersfield, California. Firefighters worked for more than two hours to remove the heavy fronds from Fermin U. Ortiz Leiva, 55, but he had already died, according to a KGET report
Man pinned, injured by cut tree
A man was injured when his leg was trapped under a cut tree August 31, 2024, in Camden County, New Jersey. First responders freed the man, and he was transported to a local hospital by flight medics, according to a Gloucester Township Daily Voice report
Worker injured when lift overturns
A worker was trapped when the compact lift he was operating overturned August 24, 2024, in Port Republic, Md. The 29-year-old worker was transported to a local hospital with unknown injuries, according to an smnewsnet.com report.
ELECTRIC SHOCK OR BURN
Climber electrocuted
A climber was electrocuted March 12, 2025, in Waldorf, Maryland. The climber was approximately 25 feet up in a tree when he came in contact with live wires. He was pronounced dead at the scene, according to a thebaynetwork.com report.
Tree worker injured by electric shock
A tree worker was injured when she was shocked February 15, 2025, in Abilene, Texas. The 22-year-old woman was working as part of a tree-trimming crew when the crew’s bucket-truck boom struck a power line. It was unclear if the victim was in the bucket or if she was on the ground and received a […]
Climber likely electrocuted in palm
A climber was apparently electrocuted while trimming a palm February 12, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Antonio Fuentes, 43, was pronounced dead at the scene after firefighters recovered his body from 25 feet up in the palm. It was not clear if he was a professional tree worker. While electrocution was the likely cause, the […]
Climber rescued after electric shock
Firefighters rescued a climber for a tree care company who was stuck more than 25 feet in the air after he received an electric shock February 8, 2025, in Westwood, Calif. Firefighters waited for authorities to de-energize the utility pole before they were able to rescue the worker. The climber was alert but taken to […]
Man electrocuted
A man was killed when his saw touched power lines January 18, 2025, in La Joya, Texas. Vincente Morgado, 54, of La Joya, was trimming trees on the grounds of a church when the incident occurred, according to a Daily Caller report.
RESCUE
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 […]
Lift operator rescued from bucket
A tree worker was rescued from a bucket truck January 14, 2025, in Hopkinton, Massachusetts. The aerial-lift operator was performing tree work in a neighborhood when the bucket appeared to malfunction. The fire department provided rescue equipment, and the worker was able to attach himself to a rope before being lowered to the ground, according […]
Worker rescued from bucket truck
A tree worker was rescued from the bucket of an aerial-lift truck December 31, 2024, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. A hydraulic line on the truck ruptured, causing the man to be stranded at height. Firefighters were able to extend their truck ladder and rescue the bucket operator, according to a FOX 25 News report.
