The owner of a tree removal service on Long Island was killed while cutting down a tree Monday morning, police say.
Erik Halvorsen was about 50 feet up in a tree in Avalon Park and Preserve in Suffolk County and trying to cut the tree down when the trunk suddenly splintered and trapped him against the tree, according to Suffolk County police.
Halvorsen, who was wearing a safety harness, tried to free himself and plunged 20 feet, police said. Another worker was able to lower him to the ground.
The 45-year-old man was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Halvorsen was the owner of Norse Tree Service in Setauket, according to police.
