Fancy Footwork 
2003 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance
That's Using Your Foot
http://www.wnbc.com/news/2271789/detail.html
ALLENHURST, N.J. - A landscaper who kicked a tree branch to force it into wood chipper was fatally injured when his legs got pulled into the shredder.
Monmouth County authorities identified the man as Rigoberto Martinez, 20, of Long Branch, an employee of MJR Tree Service in Long Branch.
Martinez was feeding branches into the industrial-size chipper outside a private residence about 10:40 a.m. Saturday when a branch became stuck in the intake chute.
Martinez then kicked the branch, and his right foot somehow became caught in the machine, which also pulled in his left leg, authorities said.
The homeowner, Victor Towil, called police and first-aiders. Robert Honecker, an assistant county prosecutor, said the chipper had been shut off by the time help arrived, but it was too late to save Martinez.
COMMENTARY: Now, ordinarily this wouldn't even warrant my attention, but this guy was a professional. There's not a tree chipper in the universe that doesn't have hazard placards plastered all over it warning against exactly what this numbskull did. Over to you, panel!
Submitted on 06/16/2003
Submitted by:
Scott Wilson, Josh Sackett,
Charles, Mary Farley
Reference:
WNBC Web Site/AP copy
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