Worker killed after tree falls in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania
A worker was killed in a tragic accident after a tree came crashing down on him while he was loading a wood chipper Tuesday morning.
The incident happened in the front yard of a home along the 300 block of Earles Lane in Newtown Square, Delaware County.
The Delaware County Medical Examiner's Office pronounced the victim dead at the scene. Police in Newtown Township identified the worker as 43-year-old Gilberto Sinecio Feregrino of West Chester.
The owner of the tree service company said they were doing maintenance on trees and tending to a tree that fell last week in the backyard when another tree collapsed and crushed Feregrino.
A man who worked for another tree service in the Newtown Square area stopped at the scene and spoke to CBS News Philadelphia.
Reporter Joe Holden: What do you see when you look at the base of that tree?
Jeff Linton with JC Linton Tree Service: It has root rot.
Reporter Joe Holden: What does that mean?
Jeff Linton with JC Linton Tree Service: The root system is completely rotted out of it, so winds, rain and anything can push that right over. I don't ever want to be in that situation. I have 44 years in doing this... I thank God every day that none of my guys have ever been hurt, nor have I. And I climb, my son climbs. It's a dangerous game.
Strong to severe storms crossed the area Monday night with downpours and high winds, toppling trees and causing power outages.
The Philly area is seeing wind gusts around 30 mph Tuesday, according to our NEXT Weather team — and high winds combined with wet ground can cause trees to fall.