Owner of Arkansas tree business passed away after falling 20 feet while assisting with tornado cleaning

Little Rock, Arkansas – Police confirmed Monday that the owner of an Arkansas tree service company passed away last month after falling about 20 feet out of a bucket truck while helping with tornado cleanup in Cammack Village.

Michael Parker, 65, perished on April 28 while attempting to lift a tree stump out of the backyard of a house on Sunset Drive, according to a Cammack Village police report.

When the rope that was tied around the stump snapped, John Parker, Michael’s son, who was working alongside his father, informed authorities that Michael was inside the boom truck’s bucket when his father was thrown to the ground.

According to the police report, authorities saw the extended bucket about 20 feet in the air and saw that the rope’s ends were frayed, suggesting that it had likely broken.

Police reported that a team from the Little Rock Fire Department was attempting to render medical aid when they arrived. Later, when emergency personnel came, they reported that Michael had already passed away.

Michael was the proprietor of Parker Tree Service, which his family claimed he founded following a tornado that struck Carlisle a number of years ago.