Jaime Yepiz dies in fatal Phoenix tree trimming accident – May 11, 2025

Jaime Yepiz dies in fatal Phoenix tree trimming accident – May 11, 2025

Fatal Phoenix tree trimming accident death of Jaime Yepiz – Obituary

Jaime Yepiz, a 43-year-old professional tree trimmer, lost his life while working on a 50-foot palm tree in a Phoenix backyard over the weekend. The tragic incident occurred when a mass of dried palm fronds collapsed onto him, trapping him around the tree’s trunk.

Emergency crews from the Phoenix Fire Department responded to the scene, deploying rope systems, drone technology, and ladders to reach Yepiz. Using chainsaws from a ladder truck’s bucket, firefighters carefully cut through the heavy fronds to extract him. Despite their efforts, Yepiz was unresponsive when found and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. He later died due to his injuries, which his family said resulted from suffocation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has previously warned about the dangers of palm fronds in tree-trimming work, explaining that their weight can compress a worker’s chest and cause suffocation.

Jaime Yepiz leaves behind two daughters and four step-children. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to assist with burial costs in Sonora, Mexico. The Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health has launched an investigation into the incident.