A routine hedge-trimming job in Exeter Township ended in tragedy Wednesday morning when Erik Reyna-Wright, 31, of Reading, was killed after coming into contact with an overhead power line, according to officials.
The Berks County coroner said Reyna-Wright was pronounced dead at the scene and ruled his cause of death to be high-voltage electrocution, with the manner of death listed as accidental.
County dispatchers were called out at 10:54 a.m. to the 4000 block of Grant Street for reports of an incident involving a man and a bucket truck. Investigators later identified the worker as Reyna-Wright and said he had been trimming a hedge when he contacted the live line. The coroner’s release noted that OSHA had been notified and that an investigator from Harrisburg would be assigned to the case, with an autopsy scheduled for Thursday at Reading Hospital, as reported by Local21News.
New Castle Lawn and Landscape, the company involved, said in a statement that it was "holding space for grief" for coworkers and those closest to Reyna-Wright. The business added that its office would be closed on Thursday, according to comments provided to Local21News. The company did not share further details about what led up to the fatal contact with the power line.
Investigation Underway
The Berks County Coroner's Office has classified the death as accidental and alerted federal workplace safety officials. OSHA investigations in landscaping and utility vegetation work typically look at whether crews met training requirements, used proper equipment and maintained required clearances from energized lines.
Federal guidance for line-clearance tree-trimming calls for qualified workers and minimum approach distances around overhead conductors, points that are expected to be part of OSHA’s review, according to OSHA.
What This Means For Neighbors And Crews
Working around overhead power lines is a well-known hazard in tree and landscape work, where electrocution and falls are among the primary risks. When an incident like this occurs, investigators usually scrutinize worker qualifications, the tools and insulating gear on site, and whether any part of the operation moved inside the minimum safe distance from energized lines.
Family members and coworkers have not issued additional public statements. The coroner's office and OSHA did not immediately respond to follow-up requests for comment. This story will be updated as new official information and investigative findings are released.
