The victim in a fatal tree-cutting accident that happened this morning in Sequatchie County has been identified as Gary Arnold, 37, of Dallas Lake Road in Hamilton County, according to Sheriff Ronnie Hitchcock.
Hitchcock said Arnold was attempting to cut a 50-foot-tall tree at a home on Taft Highway about 7:20 a.m. CDT Wednesday when it split and fell on him.
"He went out to cut the tree and notched it on one side and started cutting it on the other side and about 15 feet up the tree it split going up the center of the tree," Hitchcock said. Arnold died of blunt force trauma to the body, he said.
Lone Oak Volunteer Fire Department worked with deputies on the incident.
Another man who was working with Arnold said he heard the tree starting to split and managed to get out of the way before it fell, Hitchcock said. He escaped uninjured.
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.com or twitter.com/BenBenton or www.facebook.com/ben.benton1 or 423-757-6569.