BARRYVILLE – A 21-year-old Lake Huntington man, who worked for N.C. Gilbert Tree Service, a tree trimming contractor for NYSEG, was killed when several 50 to100 pound mud mats fell off a cherry picker truck and landed on him. The mats are used for the trucks to park on muddy areas and not sink in.
Sullivan County Undersheriff Eric Chaboty said Aaron Terpstra was stacking up the mats after trimming trees at the Kittatinny Campgrounds in the mid-afternoon last Wednesday, February 23 when the fatal incident occurred.
He was wearing a hardhat, but went into cardiac arrest when he was pulled from under the mats.
Terpstra, who was a White Lake volunteer fireman, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Assisting at the scene were the National Park Service, Highland EMS Ambulance Service and the Yulan Fire Department.
Assisting at the scene were the National Park Service, Highland EMS Ambulance Service and the Yulan Fire Department.
The US Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the fatal accident.
