6yo boy dies after father fells tree on him

Eric Frei · 30th March 2009, 08:56 AM

Extremely sad case, but over here leaving two kids in the car is already the wrong thing to do.

Child dies after tree cut by dad falls in Mich. -- chicagotribune.com

Quote:

Child dies after tree cut by dad falls in Mich.

Associated Press
2:47 PM CDT, March 29, 2009

HASTINGS TOWNSHIP, Mich. - A 6-year-old boy has died after a tree being cut down by his father, who was clearing an 80-acre field for farming in Barry County, landed on him, police said.

The child was about 50 feet from the base of the tree that his father was cutting with a chain saw Saturday afternoon when he was struck, Michigan State Police Trooper Phil Vannette said Sunday.

"It's just a horribly tragic accident," Vannette said.

The father had told his son and a 9-year-old girl who is a family friend to stay inside a truck several hundred feet away from where he was cutting at the field in Hastings Township, Vannette said.

A pile of brush was being burned in the field, Vannette said, and the boy got out to warn his father the fire had spread to some grass. Police said the father wasn't aware that his son had left the truck.

"The dad didn't see him," Vannette said.

The father called 911 and attempted to revive the boy, who was taken to a hospital in nearby Hastings and pronounced dead, Vannette said. Hastings is located about 30 miles southeast of Grand Rapids.

Names weren't being released, Vannette said.

An autopsy was planned. Although the death appeared to be an accident, Vannette said reports from the medical examiner's office and police were to be forwarded to the prosecutor's office for review.

Willard Holmen · 30th March 2009, 09:17 AM

Farming has one of the highest cases of child death, very sad. I was born raised on a farm and I know from experience how vulnerable a young person is to injury. My dad taught me to drive a large truck at age 9. By 10 I was running the tractor and cultivater all by my self for 8 hrs a day out in the field a mile from the farm yard.
I remember a local fellow a while back who took his 5 year old son out to the bush to cut some firewood. He was attemping to fell a large dead jack pine when a large branch broke off near the top and landed on his son killing him instantly. That gives me a terrible thought of him carrying his little boy out of the bush.

Bruce Hopf · 1st April 2009, 02:50 AM

I have to agree with Willard. I too grew up on a Farm, and I started Plowing at the Age of 10 or 11. The Hazards of Farming are Horrendously High.
A Friend on mine, his Dad went to back up a Feed Mixer, that was behind a Tractor, and he Backed over his 5 Year Old Grandson.
With Children around, you have to Have 50 Pairs of Eyes watching out for Kids.
A few Years back, I was backing my one Tractor out of the Shed, and as the Tractor started to move, my Daughter 3 at the time, ran past the shed Door. My Best friend Yelled, my Wife at the time, now Ex Wife, Screamed at her, and I went and held her, and I Calmly explained how Dangerous what she had done. I told her if Daddy ran her over, there would be no more Katherine (my Daughter's Name), and that made her very Upset. After that, she learned to be careful around Farm Machinery, and make sure that if someone was driving a Tractor, to make sure that she was seen, before crossing around it.
Sad Thing to hear about Accidents like this. Bruce.

Willard Holmen · 1st April 2009, 04:01 AM

Another sad story I read in a Manitoba newspaper last summer was about a young farmer who was cleaning manure out of his barn with his full sized skid steer. He backed over his 4 year old daughter. She died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Myself having 3 young daughters that story really hit home for me.
Good example for the arborist who is doing residential tree work with a loader or skid steer, you never know what can happen, slow down and keep a wide angle vision.

treefeller · 2nd April 2009, 02:08 AM

Very sad to hear, i feel for the family

Sean Freeman · 2nd April 2009, 10:34 AM

Terrible thing to happen, the guy will need serious help for years getting over that one (which he probably never will).

Tree felling is without doubt one of the most dangerous elements of tree work, we often (I think) get complacent about the risks and the potential for things to go wildy wrong very quickly....develop good safe planning and stick to it, no matter if it adds 10mins to the job or not.

Bruce Hopf · 2nd April 2009, 10:47 AM

I'm talking from Experience. When you are involved in Any Type of Fatal Accident, that will never leave. When I was Driving Transport Truck in 1995, I just had 240,000 KMs on my New Volvo Highway Tractor, when I had a Kid come through a Stop Sign, out in front of me, and his Best Friend, who was in the Passenger Seat, was Killed, when I hit the Car. He just turned 20, and the Driver was 19. The Driver, well isn't much better than a Vegetable.
I had no Trailer on the Back, and As I hit the Car, the Momentum of the Car put me into a 108 Degree Spin, and I Skidded over 150' Backwards. Bruce.

newguy18 · 2nd April 2009, 11:04 AM

Watching someone you don't even know getting shot never leaves either,ask me i know,only in my situation the kid survived,plus i id'd the shooter.i feel bad for you Bruce.

Willard Holmen · 2nd April 2009, 02:46 PM

Oh what the heck I'll tell my story. 35 years later I still have a hard time with it if I don't stay busy.
I was 16 years old, Feb 28 1974 ,just got my drivers license a month earlier. I took my dad's 1955 Ford Meteor car with 6 of my buddies packed in it. We were going to a country dance in the dark and was snowing heavily. I missed the turnoff to the dance hall, made a quick U-turn , big semi-tractor trailer truck came around the curve jack knifed , cut my car in half. At that moment I saw him on the wrong side of the highway coming at me at high speed I tried to drive into the ditch but the snowbank on the shoulder of the highway stopped me. 2 of my best friends and one of their girlfriends were killed. Couple of others had serious injuries. All I got was a concussion and a broken arm.
That summer my older brother got me a job in Manitoba logging. I have been running saws ever since , good honest hard work and a few adjustments in life have been good.
Willard.

Eric Frei · 2nd April 2009, 03:37 PM

Jeez, some horror stories coming out.

I never had anything like that happen, touch wood.

Willard Holmen · 2nd April 2009, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ekka

Jeez, some horror stories coming out.

I never had anything like that happen, touch wood.

Yeah it something you never want to talk about, but sometimes you have to explain to others about yourself.

M.Green - SVTS · 2nd April 2009, 10:10 PM

I commented on this over at another Forum. It's a shame. But we all know everyone with a chainsaw knows how to cut down a tree, right? I encourage everyone who is even considering cutting down a tree unless it's 2" or 3" at the base to consult with an Arborist. Get instruction and supervision.

I know in Maine where I live you don't need to be licensed to work from the ground which is a scary thing. Who know's how many of the "businesses" up here are legit with licensing and insurance.

It's sad. Condolences to the family but please find out before the accident happens what you are getting yourself into trying to remove a tree.

M. Green - Saco Valley Tree Services

M.Green - SVTS · 2nd April 2009, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HolmenTree

Oh what the heck I'll tell my story. 35 years later I still have a hard time with it if I don't stay busy.
I was 16 years old, Feb 28 1974 ,just got my drivers license a month earlier. I took my dad's 1955 Ford Meteor car with 6 of my buddies packed in it. We were going to a country dance in the dark and was snowing heavily. I missed the turnoff to the dance hall, made a quick U-turn , big semi-tractor trailer truck came around the curve jack knifed , cut my car in half. At that moment I saw him on the wrong side of the highway coming at me at high speed I tried to drive into the ditch but the snowbank on the shoulder of the highway stopped me. 2 of my best friends and one of their girlfriends were killed. Couple of others had serious injuries. All I got was a concussion and a broken arm.
That summer my older brother got me a job in Manitoba logging. I have been running saws ever since , good honest hard work and a few adjustments in life have been good.
Willard.

I sympathize for you, if you weren't drinking. If you were drunk I'd say something along the lines of "I hope that burden rests on your shoulders the rest of your life." but it seems you did what was logical and tried to get the hell out of the way. Good man, don't let it bring you down.

I lost my sister to an unfortunate accident so I somewhat know what it's like to lose someone because of yourself. It's a shame it really is.

M.Green - Saco Valley Tree Services

M.Green - SVTS · 2nd April 2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Hopf

I have to agree with Willard. I too grew up on a Farm, and I started Plowing at the Age of 10 or 11. The Hazards of Farming are Horrendously High.
A Friend on mine, his Dad went to back up a Feed Mixer, that was behind a Tractor, and he Backed over his 5 Year Old Grandson.
With Children around, you have to Have 50 Pairs of Eyes watching out for Kids.
A few Years back, I was backing my one Tractor out of the Shed, and as the Tractor started to move, my Daughter 3 at the time, ran past the shed Door. My Best friend Yelled, my Wife at the time, now Ex Wife, Screamed at her, and I went and held her, and I Calmly explained how Dangerous what she had done. I told her if Daddy ran her over, there would be no more Katherine (my Daughter's Name), and that made her very Upset. After that, she learned to be careful around Farm Machinery, and make sure that if someone was driving a Tractor, to make sure that she was seen, before crossing around it.
Sad Thing to hear about Accidents like this. Bruce.

I know it's hard to figure out which situations you should have a child in our around. But if theres any doubt in your mind your child or kid that's around shouldn't be around. Get them in the house and then do the work.

Willard Holmen · 3rd April 2009, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M.Green - SVTS

I sympathize for you, if you weren't drinking. If you were drunk I'd say something along the lines of "I hope that burden rests on your shoulders the rest of your life." but it seems you did what was logical and tried to get the hell out of the way. Good man, don't let it bring you down.

I lost my sister to an unfortunate accident so I somewhat know what it's like to lose someone because of yourself. It's a shame it really is.

M.Green - Saco Valley Tree Services

Thanks for the kind words M.Green. Yes relating to this thread all children put in dangerous situations usually come out on the losing side. Just like us seven 15, 16 year old kids in my dads car. And yes we were all completely sober. We were farm kids, even the girls ran heavy machinery at a very young age. But that couldn't help me to drive through that snow bank to avoid that oncoming tractor- trailer.
Having said all this, myself being a safety nut I can see where this thread can go. Just from our discussion here if one child's life can be saved the next time when everyone of us goes out and does a residential tree job, then just think how valuable this discussion is.

30th March 2009, 09:17 AM	#2
Willard Holmen Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 649	Re: 6yo boy dies after father fells tree on him Farming has one of the highest cases of child death, very sad. I was born raised on a farm and I know from experience how vulnerable a young person is to injury. My dad taught me to drive a large truck at age 9. By 10 I was running the tractor and cultivater all by my self for 8 hrs a day out in the field a mile from the farm yard. I remember a local fellow a while back who took his 5 year old son out to the bush to cut some firewood. He was attemping to fell a large dead jack pine when a large branch broke off near the top and landed on his son killing him instantly. That gives me a terrible thought of him carrying his little boy out of the bush.

1st April 2009, 02:50 AM	#3
Bruce Hopf Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North of Sebringville, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,176	Re: 6yo boy dies after father fells tree on him I have to agree with Willard. I too grew up on a Farm, and I started Plowing at the Age of 10 or 11. The Hazards of Farming are Horrendously High. A Friend on mine, his Dad went to back up a Feed Mixer, that was behind a Tractor, and he Backed over his 5 Year Old Grandson. With Children around, you have to Have 50 Pairs of Eyes watching out for Kids. A few Years back, I was backing my one Tractor out of the Shed, and as the Tractor started to move, my Daughter 3 at the time, ran past the shed Door. My Best friend Yelled, my Wife at the time, now Ex Wife, Screamed at her, and I went and held her, and I Calmly explained how Dangerous what she had done. I told her if Daddy ran her over, there would be no more Katherine (my Daughter's Name), and that made her very Upset. After that, she learned to be careful around Farm Machinery, and make sure that if someone was driving a Tractor, to make sure that she was seen, before crossing around it. Sad Thing to hear about Accidents like this. Bruce. __________________ McCulloch chain saws 1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's, 2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener, 1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver 2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10 Stihl chain saws 2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084, Strunk chain saws 1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

1st April 2009, 04:01 AM	#4
Willard Holmen Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 649	Re: 6yo boy dies after father fells tree on him Another sad story I read in a Manitoba newspaper last summer was about a young farmer who was cleaning manure out of his barn with his full sized skid steer. He backed over his 4 year old daughter. She died in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Myself having 3 young daughters that story really hit home for me. Good example for the arborist who is doing residential tree work with a loader or skid steer, you never know what can happen, slow down and keep a wide angle vision.

2nd April 2009, 02:08 AM	#5
treefeller Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: aaa Posts: 224	Re: 6yo boy dies after father fells tree on him Very sad to hear, i feel for the family

2nd April 2009, 10:34 AM	#6
Sean Freeman Monument Status Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,985	Re: 6yo boy dies after father fells tree on him Terrible thing to happen, the guy will need serious help for years getting over that one (which he probably never will). Tree felling is without doubt one of the most dangerous elements of tree work, we often (I think) get complacent about the risks and the potential for things to go wildy wrong very quickly....develop good safe planning and stick to it, no matter if it adds 10mins to the job or not.

2nd April 2009, 10:47 AM	#7
Bruce Hopf Veteran Heritage Status Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North of Sebringville, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,176	Re: 6yo boy dies after father fells tree on him I'm talking from Experience. When you are involved in Any Type of Fatal Accident, that will never leave. When I was Driving Transport Truck in 1995, I just had 240,000 KMs on my New Volvo Highway Tractor, when I had a Kid come through a Stop Sign, out in front of me, and his Best Friend, who was in the Passenger Seat, was Killed, when I hit the Car. He just turned 20, and the Driver was 19. The Driver, well isn't much better than a Vegetable. I had no Trailer on the Back, and As I hit the Car, the Momentum of the Car put me into a 108 Degree Spin, and I Skidded over 150' Backwards. Bruce. __________________ McCulloch chain saws 1- Pro Mac 60, 1- Pro Mac 700, 2- Mac 10-10 Automatic's, 2- Mini Mac 30's, 2- Mac 110's, 2- Mini Mac 35's, 1- Mac 140 with Automatic Chain Sharpener, 1- Pro Mac 10-10, 1- Mac Cat, 2- Eager Beaver 2.0's, 1- Mac 1-10 Stihl chain saws 2- 044's, 2- 034's, 2- 024's, 1- 064, 1- 084, Strunk chain saws 1- Busy Beaver, 1- SpeeDemon Special Stand Back, I Have A Very Extreme Case of CAD (Chain Saw Addiction Disorder).

2nd April 2009, 11:04 AM	#8
newguy18 Part of the Furniture Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: orlando,fl Posts: 4,977	Re: 6yo boy dies after father fells tree on him Watching someone you don't even know getting shot never leaves either,ask me i know,only in my situation the kid survived,plus i id'd the shooter.i feel bad for you Bruce. __________________ Have your say join us today. old schooler

2nd April 2009, 02:46 PM	#9
Willard Holmen Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Manitoba, Canada Posts: 649	Re: 6yo boy dies after father fells tree on him Oh what the heck I'll tell my story. 35 years later I still have a hard time with it if I don't stay busy. I was 16 years old, Feb 28 1974 ,just got my drivers license a month earlier. I took my dad's 1955 Ford Meteor car with 6 of my buddies packed in it. We were going to a country dance in the dark and was snowing heavily. I missed the turnoff to the dance hall, made a quick U-turn , big semi-tractor trailer truck came around the curve jack knifed , cut my car in half. At that moment I saw him on the wrong side of the highway coming at me at high speed I tried to drive into the ditch but the snowbank on the shoulder of the highway stopped me. 2 of my best friends and one of their girlfriends were killed. Couple of others had serious injuries. All I got was a concussion and a broken arm. That summer my older brother got me a job in Manitoba logging. I have been running saws ever since , good honest hard work and a few adjustments in life have been good. Willard.

2nd April 2009, 03:37 PM	#10
Eric Frei Admin - Razor sharp and independent 2 X Diploma Level 5 qualified arborist Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 12,820	Re: 6yo boy dies after father fells tree on him Jeez, some horror stories coming out. I never had anything like that happen, touch wood. __________________ Protect your rights to work - Join Australian Tree Association My businesses:- Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping \| Stump Grinding Brisbane \| Brisbane - Gold Coast Consulting Arborist

2nd April 2009, 10:10 PM	#12
M.Green - SVTS Sappling Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 8	Re: 6yo boy dies after father fells tree on him I commented on this over at another Forum. It's a shame. But we all know everyone with a chainsaw knows how to cut down a tree, right? I encourage everyone who is even considering cutting down a tree unless it's 2" or 3" at the base to consult with an Arborist. Get instruction and supervision. I know in Maine where I live you don't need to be licensed to work from the ground which is a scary thing. Who know's how many of the "businesses" up here are legit with licensing and insurance. It's sad. Condolences to the family but please find out before the accident happens what you are getting yourself into trying to remove a tree. M. Green - Saco Valley Tree Services __________________ http://www.SacoValleyTreeServices.com

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