PG&E Drought Tree Removal Work Halted

Sonora, CA — PG&E confirms to Clarke Broadcasting that all tree mortality removal work has been suspended due the death of a tree worker in Twain Harte last week.

As reported here last week, 21-year-old Jorge Garcia Moctezuma from the state of Washington was killed after a 20 ft. top section of a tree that he had just cut came crashing down and swung back and forth causing the tree he was on to break below him. PG&E spokesperson Brandi Merlo explains, “We paused our work on removing dead or dying trees under our Drought Emergency Response Program to review procedures that ensure the safety of our crews and our contractors as they perform this vital work and see if there are any changes that need to be made. Work will resume once that review is complete.” Merlo estimates that will happen sometime next week.

Merlo says that the investigation into the deadly accident is still ongoing and she has no new details to release. She adds, “The safety of our community and our workers is our top priority.”