Tree service owner operator struck by falling tree he cut in bayville NJ

To me it seems the big problem was the curve of the log, probably hit the ground and did a crazy jump which was what hurt the dude. Kudos for you trying to help him get the job squared away, lets face it even if he is unprofessional he was still out there doing an honest job to pay the bills instead of collecting welfare of stealing
 
Treetop, not sure where this guy and you are located but I would be happy to help you buck and drag wood or any other low skilled work that may be needed to help out if its anywhere near MD 495/270 area.
 
pctree said:
To me it seems the big problem was the curve of the log, probably hit the ground and did a crazy jump which was what hurt the dude. Kudos for you trying to help him get the job squared away, lets face it even if he is unprofessional he was still out there doing an honest job to pay the bills instead of collecting welfare of stealing
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No doubt. The curve of the log definetly had a hand in the play , I think it acually bounced that way off the tree, I showed pic with a wound from hit. It hit the tree had all that force from the angle at which the tree hit and bounced right back on him.
 
New2trees said:
Treetop, not sure where this guy and you are located but I would be happy to help you buck and drag wood or any other low skilled work that may be needed to help out if its anywhere near MD 495/270 area.
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That's a generous offer. Doesn't look like much is left but a couple cuts and some stump grinding, probably was the last cut of the day... that damn cut requires the most focus or you know......
 
I want going to comment until I saw the YouTube video someone posted. This guy got exactly what he planned for.
No safety at all in that video. Looks like two hilljacks with a saw. These are the kind of guys doing business that absolutely disgust me.

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It doesn't surprise me that Daniel would deem this kind of cutting as "no big deal." Fucking unbelievable statement.
We have no idea as to the intent of that cut/stump, but this is the very kind of hackery that I have been so vocal against. To anyone listening, please learn the basics, and stick to tried and proven practices. Fuck the VooDoo!


hackery.webp
 
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Daniel said:
Looks like the tree made the intended lay, laid up in another tree and slid backwards off the stump....

he was probably running a short bar, so he took a couple inches off both corners. This is a valid technique if you are not fighting side lean... The above is pure speculation based on the one photo, so it could be way off ....

His biggest mistake was no escape: not getting back away from the stump when the tree started to move. It's fairly rare for trees to come back off the stump in suburban situations, but if the tree is stopped or slowed by another tree while it is still fairly upright, that is always a potential danger...

If that's the case, using a humboldt with 1.5-2" of stump shot would be recommended...

Hope he heals well and puts some energy into learning..

Thanks for sharing.. worthwhile subject and all good contributions..
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Daniel,
Are you suggesting that he hacked up that stump and then made an attempt at an advanced felling technique?


That is an interesting stump. Interesting stumps are like a Doctor's most interesting patient. You don't want to your doctor's most interesting patient.

I don't see an attempt at an advanced felling technique. It looks to me like a lot of cuts were made after the trunk was hung up.

Here is a close up:

arborist injured stump photo cropped and enlarged.webp

I believe the tree hung in another tree and then he went back in and made those cuts after the trunk was hung. This would have placed him right at the stump when his final cut in the hung tree severed the final fiber needed to release the tree from the stump. Then things happened fast.

The small limbs of what may be another fairly sizeable tree are visible in one of the photos and it may well be the tree that the intended felling hung up in.

What looks like a strike and probably is in the tree standing in the photo may be after the severed trunk had 'rolled' off of the unseen tree branches. Of course it may well be the main strike and probably is.

There is a lot we don't know.

Was the trunk moved from the original accident location? By rescue personnel?

Did he end up trapped under the trunk?

Had he cut his saw off and was rocking back and forth by hand the hung limbless trunk hoping to free it, and then it went? I admit to having done this myself a time or two, but not on wood as big as this. Maybe I missed a report of exactly how it went down?

It does look like the trunk had been topped and been limbed down to the big wood. Also called 'brushed out'. I don't see wood chip evidence of any limb cuts in the yard, but they may have been cleaned up.

I am posting earlier posted photos here so we don't have to go back and find them.

arborist injured stump photo.webp

arborist injured stump photo1.webp

arborist injured stump photo2.webp
 
TreeCo said:
Was the trunk moved from the original accident location? By rescue personnel?

Did he end up trapped under the trunk
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He was trapped under it for a short time time before his guys rolled log off him. It lays where it was from rolling off of him from my understanding. As well from what I gathered from a phone conversation with his guy that the tree being removed hit the other tree and bounced off landing on him.. I dont think he went in to free it after struck tree, from my understanding it all happened rather rapidly during initial fall.. Again I'll be reaching out tomorow to try and gather more info and help him if he would like.. I herd home owner has video albeit blurry, no confirmation on that..I guess i could knock on door and request a copy in the name of research..
 
Honestly I do not understand why the man did not spur up that little thing a block it down swiftly. This dropping whacky spars in crowded yards does not make sense to me. I work in very tight yards full of targets. Just fast and easy to piece out. So many wrong things here. Heal up dude.
 
treeco,
good points and I hadn't considered..

The thing that makes that stump looks the worst is the un-level floor cut of the face, which probably he corrected with another cut just above it... That's a sure sign of sloppy work...

Taking the corners in that far could also have been a sign of poor understanding, if he was just doing it out of habit. On the other hand if he as working with a short bar, that's a technique I have used many times, as long as there is no significant side lean....

Looks like three steps would have put him far out of the danger zone... That's another sign of poor work practices...
 
Gosh Daniel, but I thought you just said that his sloppy cutting "was no big deal". You certainly are one schizophrenic mofo.

It sounds like this poor fella's busted back was the direct result of some very sloppy cutting, a' la Daniel Murphy!
 
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My experience has led me to believe, its my duty to help others when theyre down, give them more than they deserve and be thankful for what I've got. So as long as I'm able I will try to keep shining light in darkness and stay salty my friends.
 
Never herd back from the injured, will follow up for more details and hope to speak with him and find out more about this shitty accident
 
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