A tree-trimmer at Ocean Ridge Town Hall died Tuesday after being pulled into a wood chipper. Police are investigating the incident. Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star
A worker was killed Tuesday morning in a wood chipper while doing tree-trimming work at Ocean Ridge Town Hall.
The unidentified worker was part of a crew trimming coconut palm trees on the north side of the building when the incident occurred.
Ocean Ridge Town Manager Lynne Ladner in a statement said it happened at about 9:30 a.m. The crew, from contracted vendor Carlton Tree Service, started the work at Town Hall about 8 a.m.
Ocean Ridge police officers arrived at the scene and determined one person had been pulled into the machine and was killed.
“I’m devastated. This is a horrible loss of life,” Ladner said. She added that Boynton Beach Fire Rescue is providing grief counselors for town employees and the vendor’s staff.
Ladner also said representatives from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration had been contacted and were headed to the scene.
Boynton Beach police are assisting Ocean Ridge police in the investigation.
—Henry Fitzgerald
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