The Grim Chipper


This is not the way you want to go. I can only imagine the horror of the people who saw this: Woodchipper Victim ID'd

Officials say a Santa Cruz County maintenance worker who died when he was pulled into a wood chipper had been an employee of the county for more than 40 years.

The worker was identified Tuesday as 60-year-old Henry Lira.

According to sheriff's reports, Lira was part of a four-person crew that was clearing brush on a rural road outside Watsonville on Monday morning when the accident happened. Lira was pronounced dead at the scene.

Lira was a 40-year county employee, which just goes to show you that the risk of death and injury can actually increase when a veteran becomes too complacent about dangerous work.

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