WEST FRANKLIN -- A 69-year-old man was killed Thursday afternoon when a large tree fell on him in a wooded area of his property. Armstrong County Coroner Bob Bower said Henry John Bevington of Bevington Road, West Franklin Township, was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:15 p.m. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head and ruled accidental, Bower said. According to the coroner's report, Bevington was cutting trees in the woods about 1,000 feet from his residence. At approximately 5:10 p.m., his 4-year-old grandson, who had accompanied him, came running out of the woods telling his grandmother that his grandfather needed help. Armstrong 911 was notified while the victim's son, Jody Bevington, 33, who lives next door, went to the aid of his father. Jody Bevington stated that a tree had fallen on his father, trapping him under a large limb of the tree, and that he used a chainsaw at the scene to cut away the limb and pull him from under the tree, Bower said. The injuries were fatal and the coroner was notified. Bower said it appeared that Bevington had earlier cut down another tree next to the 30-inch diameter tree that fell on him. While he was cutting a second tree 33 feet from the first, the tree fell from behind striking him in the head, Bower said. The ground around the first tree may have weakened the ground adjacent to the tree that fell on him, aiding it to fall, he said. Bevington was experienced at cutting trees on his 33 acres of wooded area, according to Bower. The wood was cut as firewood for his garage. Worthington-West Franklin Fire Department and Ambulance assisted at the scene and provided four-wheel vehicles to get in and out of the area.

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