Tree worker critically hurt after hitting Santa Barbara power lines

A tree trimmer was rushed to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital after an industrial accident involving high-tension power lines.

According to coworkers at the scene, the man was part of a crew trimming trees near electrical lines. They were on a contract with Southern California Edison.

The company truck was labeled Rancho Tree Care out of Bakersfield.

Santa Barbara City Fire and AMR responded to an urgent 911 call from two other members of the crew when the man went down inside the extension bucket.

They remotely brought the bucket to the ground and began to render first aid. The man was unconscious at the time.

Extensive CPR took place at the scene before the man was transported to Cottage Hospital, which was only a few blocks away.

An investigation is underway by Cal/OSHA the Division of Occupational Safety and Health and the Santa Barbara Police Department.

Bath Street was closed off in the area of Los Olivos Street for more than five hours.

Cal/OSHA released the following statement to our newsroom:

Cal/OSHA was notified of an electrical accident involving an employee of Rancho Tree Service in Santa Barbara on Monday. Cal/OSHA is investigating to determine the cause of the incident and identify violations of workplace safety regulations. Employers must notify Cal/OSHA when there is a workplace fatality or serious injury (results in hospitalization). We do not have updates on the condition of the injured employee.