Man dies after falling from bucket truck in Franklin County

A man died after falling out of a bucket truck while trimming trees in Franklin County on Tuesday.

When he fell, Franklin County deputies said Raymond Morgan, 44, was in a bucket truck about 60 feet off the ground along John Mitchell Road.

First responders said Morgan went into cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital.

"I can only imagine what the family is going through just because that is something that's really core shaking because that's something that can happen to anybody that you know," witness said.

Dana Hassard was in her home near the scene when it happened.

Her husband heard yelling and saw the first responders arrive.

"We see the bucket was still up there, so we knew something happened we just didn't know what," Hassard said.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office says the bin apparently shifted and that's when Morgan fell.

Hassard is grieving for the victim and commending utility workers' bravery.

"It keeps us safe because the tree limbs need to be away from electrical lines and this and that," Hassard said. "So I think this is definitely an important role that people need to remember."

Authorities said Morgan was an employee of Asplundh Tree Service. Witnesses told investigators that Morgan hit nearby power lines when he fell before landing on the ground.

A family member told WRAL that he was always smiling and loved life.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and The N.C. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Division is investigating.