Calif. Worker Sucked Into Wood Chipper

KION - Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz - News Weather
Santa Cruz County Worker Dies in Industrial Accident

Posted: Jun 07, 2010 11:57 AM PDT
Updated: Jun 07, 2010 6:22 PM PDT

WATSONVILLE, Calif- A horrific accident that could make anyone cringe. A 61 year old man pulled into a tree chipper and killed! Investigators aren't releasing the man's name yet but people that knew him told Central Coast News he worked with the county since 1969 and it's going to take a long time to get over losing their friend.

County workers in Santa Cruz are trying to deal with the unthinkable, a friend and co-worker was pulled into this tree chipper and killed, "I've talked to people who knew him and they just say he was a great guy he loved public works he loved being out there doing the work, out there with his crew so it's really tough for everybody, "said Dinah Phillips with the County of Santa Cruz.

The 61 year old man's co-workers helplessly watched it happen on whiting road in Watsonville this morning. On Monday counselors were trying to help them deal with this horrific accident, "It's a pretty small knit department and everybody in the department is going to need help to one degree or another," said Phillips.

Terry Reynolds was too shaken up to talk on camera but said he worked with the man for 34 years and described him as dependable, hardworking and honest. Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Department is still investigating the accident and the county is taking a close looking at its safety procedures, "We're always looking at our safety processes and procedures and trying to tweak them and make them better and better to keep thing like this happening and this will just me part of that ongoing process," said Phillips.
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Comment by Gordon on June 8, 2010 at 10:27pm
Delete Comment I did this work off and on for years. The drill was constantly on safety. Workers if possible were to ware short sleeve tucked in work shirts, failing that long sleeve shirts had to be of proper fit and properly buttoned. Our gloves had to be proper fitting and hair had to be kept cut short so there would be no danger of entanglement and being scalped or pulled in. if there was a clog the machine was shut down until the clog was cleared. At no time were we to force feed anything using our hands or feet. Anyone seen being careless was reprimanded. Non-adherence to the rules of safety would cost you your job. In all those years where I filled in to help out thankfully there was never an incident. Believe me all it takes to remind you of the safety regulations is the hint of a tug.