One man dies, two injured in Tucson tree-trimming accidents

The 30-year-old was struck by approximately 50 branches that fell from the top of the 40-foot tree and knocked him unconscious at 10:38 a.m., said Capt. Tricia Tracy, a Tucson Fire Department spokeswoman.

It appears that he was at the top of the tree and was knocked down about 20 feet, Tracy said. He remained secured to the tree as he was wearing a harness and safety gear.

Several people called 911 and it took approximately 30 minutes to cut the branches off of the man and then lower him down in a ladder truck. He remained unconscious throughout the rescue effort, Tracy said.

He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The man was working in the area of East Broadway and North Wilmot Road.

A woman said that the man and his father knocked on her door, asking to cut her tree, according to Tracy.

She agreed and thought that they had been outside for 20 minutes when she noticed that the branches fell.

The man’s name will not be released until his family has been notified.

Around the same time, two other men had to be rescued from a palm tree on the Northwest Side, said Katy Heiden, a Northwest Fire District spokeswoman.

The men were working at a home near West River and North Shannon roads at the top of palm tree that was 60 to 70 feet tall, Heiden said.

Some of the branches they were trimming came down on top of them and the men slid half way down the tree, she said.

They were supported by other branches and one of the men was able to get down on his own, Heiden said.

The other had to be brought down with a ladder truck.

Both were treated at the scene for cuts.