OCALA, Fla. – An Ocala landscaper died Thursday afternoon when a tree fell on him while strong storms moved through the area, according to the Ocala Police Department (OPD).
According to the OPD, Hunter Parks was killed by a large oak tree around 3 p.m. on SW 46th Avenue, south of Silver Springs Boulevard.
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Police said Parks and his coworker were near the tree before it fell. When they started to hear the tree begin to crack, they both started to run from the tree. The coworker ran in one direction while Parks moved in another direction, ultimately placing him in the path of the falling tree, police said.
He died at the scene, police said.
Parks was a landscaper for Grandview Landscaping Services.
“Our hearts go out to the victim’s family and loved ones during this difficult time,” police said in a statement to News4JAX.
MORE | Severe thunderstorms produce possible tornado in St. Johns County
Storms that swept through central and northeast Florida on Thursday evening left widespread damage.
In Clay and St. Johns counties, there were power outages and damage from a possible tornado.
