WHITEWATER, Wis.– 31-year-old Rodrigo Arreola from West Virginia is the man who was fatally struck by lightning in Whitewater.
According to the Whitewater Fire Department, crews responded to reports of an unresponsive man suspended 60 feet high in a tree around 9:56 a.m. on Monday, July 27.
The man was working with Davey Tree, a crew subcontracted by WE Energies to trim trees in the area of Laurel, Court and Elizabeth Street.
Davey Tree released the following statement:
We are very sorry to report that a Davey Tree team member was fatally injured this morning at a work site in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Unfortunately, we do not have many details yet to share. Right now, our concern is for our employee’s family, coworkers and friends, and we are reaching out to them to determine how we can provide support during this tragic time.
The supervisor on duty said there was a “loud band and a flash” and believed the tree was struck by lightning.
There was no evidence that Arreola was electrocuted from electrical lines.
Fire crews attempted to remove the man with a tower ladder but were unsuccessful due to the distance of the tree from the road.
Members from the man’s tree trimming crew ascended the tree and lowered Arreola down to the ground using his safety harness.
Arreola was pronounced dead at the scene.
