UPDATE on Friday, May 5, 2017: The Bexar County Medical Examiner has identified the victim as Jesse Garza, 58. See previous story below.
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A man trimming tree branches at a home in Far North Bexar County is dead after he hit a power line with the equipment he was using to cut the branches.
It happened around 7 p.m. in the 900 block of Enchanted Rock -- the man fell from the tree after getting shocked and ended up dying.
Neighbors told us the victim is not the homeowner and suspect he was doing work at the house.
It's unclear whether the fall or the shock killed the man, but a sergeant at the scene said it was a "freak accident" regardless.
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Man killed in accident trimming trees near power lines
By Jacob Beltran
Updated 6:22 pm, Friday, May 5, 2017
A man trimming trees outside his house Thursday evening in North Bexar County died after his tool made contact with a power line and he fell.
Bexar County Sheriff's Office spokesman Deputy Leonard Lopez said the man, 55, was cutting branches around the lines at about 6 p.m. in the 900 block of Enchanted Rock.
“It’s hard to hear stuff like that,” Lopez said. “EMS worked on him to revive him but they were unable to do so.”
Whether the man was killed by electrocution or fall remains to be determined by the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office.
Lopez said the man was by himself when the accident occurred. Authorities are investigating the incident, but said it appears to be an accident.
Authorities urged citizens to take advantage of free trimming of trees that are along power lines, which is offered by CPS Energy.
CPS Energy spokesman Albert Cantu said their campaign called “Look Up and Live,” cautions people to never trim trees near power lines and be mindful of how close trees are being planted to them.
“That power can arc, which means it can jump out,” Cantu said. “If you get too close to those lines, you, of course, become grounded.”
CPS Energy’s tree-trimming service may be reached at 210-353-2222.
Telephone lines will need to be handled by their respective companies, Cantu said.