MARCH 13, 2015
WELLSVILLE, UTAH
A 50-year-old man died in Wellsville Thursday evening in an
accident that occurred as he was trimming a tree with the use of a boom truck,
and a witness reports the man fell about 30 feet.
According to a press release from Cache County Sheriff’s
Office, the victim was identified as 50-year-old Jeffery Glenn of Wellsville.
The press release states dispatch received a report of the
fall around 5:30 p.m., and the fall occurred between 300 South and 300 West in
Westville. Glenn was trimming a tree
while using a boom truck, and he had tied a rope to the tree and the boom in an
attempt to keep tree limbs away from power lines.
While the man was trimming the tree, the rope broke,
“catapulting the victim out of the bucket and onto a pile of wood.”
A nearby witness started CPR and called 911. Emergency
responders took the man to Logan Regional Hospital by ambulance, where the man
was pronounced dead upon arrival.
“This is a tragic accident for all those involved,” Sheriff
Chad Jensen stated in the press release. “The Sheriff’s Office extends its
condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Glenn.”
The press release states the incident has been referred to
the State Medical Examiner’s office for a determination of the cause of death.
Pruning trees is a dangerous job and should be left to the
professionals. It is important to note
that even the professionals do die on the job. Hopefully, those working with trees, tree
pruning companies and arborist associations will continue to emphasize the importance
of wearing a harness and short lanyard when using boom type lifts and get the
message across to their employees/members and the general public, that failure
to do so can easily have a fatal ending, as the devastated families, colleagues
and friends of Mr. Glenn can sadly attest.