Man Killed In Apparent Chainsaw Accident While On The Job In Fair Oaks

CITRUS HEIGHTS (CBS13) - Authorities say a man is dead after a horrific workplace accident in Citrus Heights.

Metro Fire says they responded to Hoffman in Citrus Heights just after 10:30 a.m. Friday. There, an unresponsive man was found suspended about 40-50 feet up in a tree.

When first responders arrived on the scene, they saw a large pool of blood below the man. The first engine that showed up couldn't reach the man, so a truck with an aerial ladder was called in to help. The man had no pulse, first responders soon found once they were able to get up the tree, and he was brought back down to the ground.

Once down, Metro Fire says, evidence of a chainsaw cut was seen on the man.

According to Cal/OSHA spokesperson Julia Bernstein, the man was working with the chainsaw when a branch fell, causing the chainsaw to come towards him and injured him. He was soon pronounced dead.

Authorities have not released his identity.

According to statistics of the California Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, in 2012, the total number of deaths was 375. In 2013, it was 396, and in 2014, the last year of published data, it was 344.

The average number of fatalities for the 3 full years was 372 per year. The numbers for 2015 will be published in December.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story reported the incident happened in Citrus Heights.