Man killed by falling tree in Washington County

CANTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A man was killed by a falling tree in Washington County.

Washington County dispatchers said crews were called to the 1080 block of Lynn Portal Road in Canton Township at 3 p.m. on Monday.

Washington County Coroner Tim Warco said a tree landed on a contractor when it fell in an unintended direction.

At 9:50 p.m. on Monday, Warco identified the contractor as Ryan John Jenny, 42, of Houston.

Greene Washington Regional Police Department William DeForte shared more information on how the tragedy unfolded.

“The decedent in this case had tied the top of the tree to direct the fall of the tree,” DeForte said. “While he was cutting at a lower level, there was a stress fracture that happened approximately 25 feet above his head where the tree had snapped, causing the entire weight of the tree to fall upon him.”

DeForte said debris was removed from Jenny, and crews immediately began administering CPR. He added that Jenny, who was working alone at the time, was following all of the proper safety procedures.

“Everything was done appropriately. He had all of the safety lines set in place; he was very professional,” DeForte said.

DeForte said incidents like this serve as a reminder to the community of just how quickly tragedies can happen.

“Something like this, I think, should bring us all to the table and appreciate everybody in our lives because one moment we are here, and the next moment we are not,” DeForte said.

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