Buckner man fatally injured in tree trimming accident at Benton church

A 48-year-old Buckner man was fatally injured Wednesday, January 13 while trimming trees at a Benton church.

Franklin County Coroner Marty Leffler reported that Todd William McWhirter, an employee of MySons Tree Service, fell from a tree-trimming bucket while working at Immanuel Baptist Church, located on North Main Street in Benton. Leffler said McWhirter fell approximately 50 feet, landing on his back. The accident happened at approximately 10:30 a.m.

Leffler said another employee went to McWhirter immediately, but he was unresponsive. McWhirter was taken to Franklin Hospital Emergency Room where he was pronounced dead.

Leffler said it is uncertain if McWhirter had a medical issue that caused him to fall or if it was a work-related accident. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday morning at Franklin Hospital, Leffler said. McWhirter was not wearing a safety harness.

The coroner’s office and the Benton Police Department are investigating the fatal accident.

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