14.11.2018

Tree trimming fatality in Idaho

One man died and another was seriously injured in Idaho yesterday, after an incident with their truck mounted lift.

The two men - Corbin Bowers, 28 and Emmett Koyle, 26 - both employed by Tree Trouble were trimming a tree in Jackson, Idaho, roughly halfway between Idaho Falls and Boise. They had tied a large limb to the platform mounted davit type jib of their bucket truck at height of around 18 metres, before cutting it free. The weight and possibly dynamic loading caused the boom to fail dumping the two of them on the ground.
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The platform crashed to the ground

Bowers died from his injuries, while Koyle was reported to be in a critical state. We understand that he eventually survived the incident and became a proud father five months later.

The platform is one of three truck mounted aerial lifts owned and operated by the company.
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The platform is on of three owned by the company

Tree Trouble posted a moving statement on its website from owner Scott Yates and other team members which including the following paragraph: “Within our community, an extremely difficult situation occurred on November 13, 2018. The death of a wonderful man occurred and another wonderful man was very badly injured. These men were doing their job and doing a phenomenal job of accomplishing the task in front of them when a maneuver that had been accomplished several times that day went wrong and ended in a terrible way.” read the full tribute on www.treetroubles.com/tree-trouble/we-will-grow

UPDATE

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined Tree Trouble $12,000, after reducing it from almost $14,800 after reaching a settlement. The agency determined the bucket had stress cracks, and critical components had not been inspected, repaired or maintained to the required standards. The company was also cited for not reporting the work related death within eight hours. Owner Scott Yates said: “I am trying to learn from my mistakes."