18-year-old dead after being hit by falling tree in Westmoreland County

MINUTES. IT’S DIFFICULT TO YOUNG A YOUNG MAN TRYING TO HELP HIS COMMUNITY. KILLED BY A FALLING TREE IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY. THE 18 YEAR OLD WAS WORKING WITH OTHERS TO CLEAR DOWNED TREES AFTER A RECENT STORM. PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR REPORTER KALEA GUNDERSON IS IN NORTH HUNTINGDON TONIGHT LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE VICTIM. NORTH HUNTINGDON POLICE SAY THE 18 YEAR OLD MAN WAS WORKING TO CLEAN UP STORM DEBRIS WHEN HE WAS KILLED. THE OWNER OF A LOCAL TREE REMOVAL SERVICE, STRESSING THE DANGERS OF THIS JOB, WHETHER IT BE PROFESSIONAL OR VOLUNTARY. I’VE HAD FRIENDS WHO HAVE DIED IN THIS BUSINESS AND I’VE WORKED WITH PERSONALLY AND IT’S VERY DIFFICULT. WE TAKE IT VERY PERSONAL. ON JULY 4TH, MIKE ZAKHAROVICH LEARNING OF ANOTHER DEATH ON THE JOB, 18 YEAR OLD JACOB JOHN LAZAR OF IRWIN WAS VOLUNTEERING AT THE TRAFFORD SPORTSMAN’S CLUB. ACCORDING TO NORTH HUNTINGDON POLICE, AND WAS KILLED AFTER A TREE FELL ON HIM. IT’S DIFFICULT TO YOUNG ZAKHAROVICH BROUGHT TO TEARS. HE SAYS. HE DIDN’T KNOW THE MAN PERSONALLY BUT KNOWS TREE REMOVAL IS DANGEROUS WORK. THE TREE BUSINESS IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS OCCUPATIONS IN THE COUNTRY, STATISTICALLY AND PROFESSIONALS GET KILLED AS WELL AS PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS THAT HELP OUT AND VOLUNTEER. IT’S JUST A VERY DANGEROUS THING TO BE DOING. IT’S IT’S BEST TO CALL A PROFESSIONAL IF YOU CAN. THE WESTMORELAND COUNTY CORONER SAID LAZAR WAS KILLED WHEN A TREE SLIPPED FROM AN EXCAVATOR BUCKET AND HIT HIM. ALL OF US TAKE IT VERY PERSONALLY. WE WE KNOW EACH OTHER A LOT OF THESE GUYS. AND IF ONE OF OUR BROTHERS OUT THERE GETS INJURED, WE FEEL IT AND WE TRY TO BE SUPPORTIVE. WE’LL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS WE LEARN ANY NEW DETAILS IN THE INVESTIGATION. REPORTIN