A seasoned tree trimmer from California tragically lost his life in a bizarre accident when he fell 35 feet and was impaled on an iron fence. The unfortunate incident occurred on Monday while the worker, identified by relatives as Rogelio Cruz, was on duty at Canoga Avenue and Valerio Street in Canoga Park.
Cruz, who had been in the tree trimming business for 20 years, was working on a palm tree when his rope became detached, causing him to fall. The 48-year-old’s family members shared this information with local media, attributing the details to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Richard Areloa, Cruz’s cousin, expressed his disbelief at the tragic turn of events. He described Cruz’s work as a daily routine, climbing up the tree, doing his job, and then returning home. However, that day was tragically different.
Cruz, who celebrated his 48th birthday in September, had a wealth of experience in tree trimming. He was employed by a family-owned and operated company. His two brothers were also present at the work site when the unfortunate incident occurred.
The family is still grappling with the shock of the incident. Areloa admitted that it was difficult to process what had happened and that they were all trying to cope with the loss.
The gruesome aftermath of the incident was captured by news helicopters. Cruz’s body, still impaled on the fence, was covered with a white sheet. A yellow tarp tied between power poles was used to shield the graphic scene from passersby.
Cruz was declared dead at the scene shortly after 3:20 p.m.