Arborist killed by falling log near Sebastopol

An arborist was killed Tuesday near Sebastopol when he was struck by an 8-inch diameter log that fell from the top of a pine tree, authorities said.

The apparent workplace accident was reported about 2:50 p.m. in the 2900 block of Thorn Road where a tree-cutting company was chopping down the large conifer, sheriff’s and fire officials said.

The company’s owner was up in the tree, about 80 feet from the ground, and the victim, described by firefighters as a man in his 20s, was standing beneath him, a sheriff’s statement said.

After removing all the branches, the owner lopped off a large portion of the top that tumbled to the ground, hitting the victim, the statement said.

The owner climbed down and began cutting the log off the man. He was dead by the time emergency crews arrived, according to the statement.

Adam Schipper, battalion chief for the Gold Ridge Fire Protection District, said the owner yelled down to the man to warn him before cutting the treetop.

“He had been made aware of it,” Schipper said. “He was just in the wrong place.”

The victim’s identity was withheld pending notification of his family.

Fire officials did not know the name of the company involved in the accident. Sheriff’s officials did not provide that information in their statement.

Workplace safety officials from Cal-OSHA were investigating the accident.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.