Tree Trimmer Dies in Freak Accident; Friend Recalls 'Pop' Sound

A tree trimmer died in a freak accident on Sunday morning in Bonita, California, while working with a close friend and coworker of 28 years. The incident occurred near Horton Road as Evaristo Bernabe Sanches was positioned high in a eucalyptus tree, trimming branches.

Benjamin Avila Saucedo, who was providing ground support, recounted hearing a "pop" as a branch fell, striking Sanches and causing his support ropes to wrap around his body. "The rope killed him," Saucedo told NBC San Diego, describing the immediate and tragic sequence of events. Sanches was approximately 35 to 40 feet above the ground when the accident happened.

Fire officials responded to the scene and were able to lower Sanches from the tree, but he was pronounced dead at the location. Saucedo attempted to assist his friend but stated the incident unfolded too quickly, lasting only about 11 or 12 seconds.

The sheriff's department is investigating the incident, with a focus on whether the recent wet weather contributed to the tree's instability. Eucalyptus trees, not native to California, are known to weaken in wet conditions, which San Diego experienced over the weekend due to Tropical Storm Rachel. Saucedo mentioned he had warned Sanches about the increased danger of trimming the tree after the heavy rains.

Sanches owned a tree trimming business in Escondido. Friends and family remembered him as a devoted father who aimed to earn money to bring his mother and sister to the U.S. from Guerrero, Mexico, citing dangerous conditions in their home country.

The cause of death has not been officially specified by the medical examiner's office. The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is also involved in the investigation.