Man killed in tree-cutting accident in Washington County
A Pittsburgh man died Monday when he was struck by a falling tree while cutting it down on a friend’s Hanover Township property.
James Krapp, 71, was cutting down trees at 536 Meadow Road when at some point between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. he was fatally struck, Washington County Coroner Tim Warco said in a press release about the incident.
It’s not clear who discovered Krapp’s body on the 100-acre property or how he was struck by the tree. He was pronounced dead by the coroner’s office at 6:40 p.m., and the cause and manner of his death are under investigation.
Hanover Township police said their officers were at the scene, but state police at the Moon Township barracks are handling the investigation into the incident.
State police Trooper Rocco Gagliardi said Krapp’s death appears to be an accident as he was cutting down a tree near an ATV trail and it fell on him. Gagliardi said he had no additional details about the incident and state police did not immediately issue a press release about Krapp’s death.
Police were assisted at the scene by the Hanover Township Fire Department, Washington County Ambulance & Chair and firefighters from Beaver County.