NEW LEXINGTON – One male victim working on New Lexington’s post-flood aftermath has died after he was struck by a falling tree during the village’s cleanup.
The New Lexington Police Department responded to reports of an unresponsive man in the 500 block of Tile Plant Road Aug. 15. There, they found the victim, who was reportedly struck by the toppling tree and then became trapped between it and an excavator days after heavy rainfall and severe flooding slammed several communities across Perry County Aug. 11.
New Lexington officers and fire and EMS first responders immediately worked to free the man and provide life-saving measures, like CPR, the New Lexington Police Department said in an announcement Aug. 19. The victim was transferred to an area hospital via ambulance as personnel continued CPR.
He was later pronounced dead at the hospital, police said.
The New Lexington Police Department will not be releasing the man’s identity as of 11:15 a.m. Aug. 19 out of respect for the family, it told the Times Recorder.
According to a preliminary investigation, New Lexington police interviewed witnesses and residents and determined that the victim and other involved individuals had been attempting to cut down a tree near a stream when it unexpectedly fell toward some nearby power lines, authorities said. The tree made contact with the power lines before striking the victim, they added.
There is no indication of foul play, and the incident appears to have been an unfortunate accident, police noted.
This article originally appeared on Zanesville Times Recorder: Man dies after struck by falling tree in New Lexington’s flood cleanup
Reporting by Shawn Digity, Zanesville Times Recorder / Zanesville Times Recorder
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Shawn Digity, Zanesville Times Recorder | USA TODAY Network
