Tree Trimmer Electrocuted In San Jose Was Gilroy Resident

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — A tree trimmer who died after being electrocuted by power lines in San Jose on Monday has been identified as a Gilroy resident, according to the Santa Clara County medical examiner's office. Pablo Gonzalez-Rincon, 33, was continuously electrocuted for an extended amount of time when he cut a branch that hit a high-tension power line, San Jose Fire Capt. Daniel Vega said.

The electrocution was first reported at 1:38 p.m. Monday after neighbors on Page Mill Drive said Gonzalez-Rincon appeared to be stuck and could not get down, the fire captain said. When crews arrived on scene, they
realized that was not the case, and both the tree and his body were emitting smoke.

Vega said the cause of the fatality has yet to be determined, but that the wind and rain conditions may have sparked enough energy through the wet wood to electrocute the man.

PG&E crews worked to determine whether it was safe for fire crews to begin setting up a rigging system to get Gonzalez-Rincon's body down from the tree, Vega said.

Gonzalez-Rincon's family and coworkers arrived on scene and a firefighter who speaks fluent Spanish worked to translate for them, according to Vega.

PG&E spokeswoman Tamar Sarkissian later said that Gonzalez-Rincon was not a PG&E employee.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to the deceased as well as his friends and family," Sarkissian said.

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By Bay City News Service