Man Killed by Tree Limb

A man was killed today when a tree limb that he was trying to cut down fell and hit him in the head.

The victim had been to do some tree work at 623 Belle Vista Drive in Chattanooga. He and an associate were in the back yard clearing wood debris and cutting branches from a tree.

According to a witness, he had winched a very heavy branch of the tree when it became stuck. As he attempted to loosen it, the branch slipped free and swung out from the winch hitting him in the head and knocking him off the ladder that he was standing on. The blow was fatal and he was pronounced dead on the scene.

Crews with the Chattanooga Fire Department and a tree cutting service had to remove the remaining tree branches before the victim could be removed.

Police spokesperson Sgt. Jerri Weary said they don't know if the victim was licensed and bonded to perform the tree removal service, but he was acting as an independent contractor at the time of the incident. His name is not being released until his family has been notified.