Landscape Contractor Dies After Touching Power Lines

A landscape contractor died after being electrocuted Monday afternoon while trimming a palm tree on the Northeast Side, officials said.

Around 2:15 p.m., the man climbed up past power lines to trim the palm tree and on his way down, he touched the power lines, which carry approximately 8,000 volts of electricity, Stoltenberg said.

After he was electrocuted, the man's body slid about half way down the tree and became stuck there, Stoltenberg said.
Two of the landscaper's co-workers tried unsuccessfully to get him down, Stoltenberg said. When emergency medical technicians arrived, they had to call the Tucson Fire Department for assistance to get him down, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
 
The name of the man, who is in his 30s, will not be released until his family is notified.

Those who plan on working around power lines should contact the utility company first for information about the safest way to complete your task, Stoltenberg said.