Trimmer Crushed to Death on Palm Tree

A 55-year-old tree trimmer was crushed to death Wednesday in the Hyde Park area as he was working 30 feet above ground on a palm tree when part of the tree came down on him, authorities said.

The man, who was working for a private company, died as firefighters tried to bring him down from the tree, said Bob Collis of the city Fire Department.

Authorities withheld the victim’s name, pending notification of relatives. It appears he cut an upper section of the tree, which then slid down, striking the man and possibly crushing him against the trunk of the tree, Collis said.