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Falling tree injures man
A 30-year-old man died Monday after an ohia tree fell, striking him on the head in Pahoa.
The victim has been identified as Methodius Suda of Hilo, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
Responding to the 3:30 p.m. report, police determined Suda was helping cut down trees on a relative’s vacant lot located off Makuu Street in the Hawaiian Paradise Park subdivision. As he was cutting an albizia tree, he was struck in the head by the falling ohia tree and knocked unconscious.
The 30- to 40-foot ohia tree, estimated at 8 to 10 inches in diameter, had already been cut and was leaning against the albizia tree before it fell, according to police.
Fire rescue personnel transported Suda to Hilo Medical Center where he died at 4:45 p.m., according to police. Preliminary results of an autopsy conducted Tuesday weren’t available as of press time.