Frans
ArboristSite Operative
Man Dies, Napa CALIF.
Tree trimmer dies in freak accident
Saturday, May 15, 2004
By MARSHA DORGAN
Register Staff Writer
A tree-trimmer working on a downtown fir tree died Friday afternoon when he was pinned by a falling branch.
The name of the 39-year-old male victim has not been released pending notification of his family.
The victim and his co-workers were cutting branches off two fir trees on a Third Street lot between Seymour Avenue and California Boulevard. The man was tethered about 60 feet above ground and was using a chain saw to remove branches from the tree trunk, Napa Fire Capt. Doug Bridewell said.
After the victim sawed a large branch loose, the branch swung around and pinned the victim between the branch and tree trunk.
"I had just got home and looked out through my backyard and saw the branch just at the minute it hit and pinned the guy," said Bill Logan, who lives behind the lot. "He cut it at an angle, causing it to swing around and pin him at his back and shoulders. He moved for a few minutes, yelling in pain and crying out for help. Then he was still."
Logan said when he arrived at the scene, he saw a co-worker attempting to rescue the victim.
"The guy doesn't speak English. There was someone here that was interpreting for him. The guy tied a chain saw around him and climbed up the tree. He tried to cut the branch off that was pinning his friend, but the saw wouldn't cut through it," Logan said. "That guy did his best to help his friend."
The accident happened around 3 p.m. Emergency crews pronounced the man dead at 3:56 p.m.
The tragedy turned from a rescue to a recovery mission.
The victim's co-workers told fire officials that his crew was just getting started in the tree-trimming business and had been hired by the property owner to cut down the trees.
The names of the co-workers were not available Friday.
A city fire ladder truck was on scene as firefighters and paramedics worked to free the victim from his tree-top perch.
The American Canyon Urban Search and Rescue Team and the Napa County Fire Technical Team were called in to help with the recovery.
Napa City Firefighters/Paramedics Dave Martignoni and Joe Valenzuela, perched at the top of the out-stretched fire ladder, used a chain saw to cut the victim free and bring him down. His body was removed from the ladder and placed on a tarp on the ground and covered with a yellow blanket.
Napa police will be conducting an investigation into the accident and the California Occupation Health and Safety Administration will be notified, police Cmdr. Andy Lewis said.
Tree trimmer dies in freak accident
Saturday, May 15, 2004
By MARSHA DORGAN
Register Staff Writer
A tree-trimmer working on a downtown fir tree died Friday afternoon when he was pinned by a falling branch.
The name of the 39-year-old male victim has not been released pending notification of his family.
The victim and his co-workers were cutting branches off two fir trees on a Third Street lot between Seymour Avenue and California Boulevard. The man was tethered about 60 feet above ground and was using a chain saw to remove branches from the tree trunk, Napa Fire Capt. Doug Bridewell said.
After the victim sawed a large branch loose, the branch swung around and pinned the victim between the branch and tree trunk.
"I had just got home and looked out through my backyard and saw the branch just at the minute it hit and pinned the guy," said Bill Logan, who lives behind the lot. "He cut it at an angle, causing it to swing around and pin him at his back and shoulders. He moved for a few minutes, yelling in pain and crying out for help. Then he was still."
Logan said when he arrived at the scene, he saw a co-worker attempting to rescue the victim.
"The guy doesn't speak English. There was someone here that was interpreting for him. The guy tied a chain saw around him and climbed up the tree. He tried to cut the branch off that was pinning his friend, but the saw wouldn't cut through it," Logan said. "That guy did his best to help his friend."
The accident happened around 3 p.m. Emergency crews pronounced the man dead at 3:56 p.m.
The tragedy turned from a rescue to a recovery mission.
The victim's co-workers told fire officials that his crew was just getting started in the tree-trimming business and had been hired by the property owner to cut down the trees.
The names of the co-workers were not available Friday.
A city fire ladder truck was on scene as firefighters and paramedics worked to free the victim from his tree-top perch.
The American Canyon Urban Search and Rescue Team and the Napa County Fire Technical Team were called in to help with the recovery.
Napa City Firefighters/Paramedics Dave Martignoni and Joe Valenzuela, perched at the top of the out-stretched fire ladder, used a chain saw to cut the victim free and bring him down. His body was removed from the ladder and placed on a tarp on the ground and covered with a yellow blanket.
Napa police will be conducting an investigation into the accident and the California Occupation Health and Safety Administration will be notified, police Cmdr. Andy Lewis said.
