33-year-old man killed after tree falls on Akron home Wednesday on Sumner Street

Derek Kreider and Anthony Thompson, Akron Beacon Journal
Updated ·2 min read

A tree fell through the roof of an Akron home Wednesday morning, killing a man inside, according to the Akron Fire Department.

Lt. Joel Price said authorities responded to an emergency call at about 10:37 a.m. concerning a tree falling into a house in the 400 block of Sumner Street due to a storm in the area. Price said one occupant, who was in the attic at the time, was killed.

Akron firefighters start work to clear a way into the upper floor of an Akron home following a tree crashing through the roof, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Akron, Ohio. An occupant who was in the attic at the time was killed according to the Akron Fire Department
Akron firefighters start work to clear a way into the upper floor of an Akron home following a tree crashing through the roof, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Akron, Ohio. An occupant who was in the attic at the time was killed according to the Akron Fire Department

Gary Guenther with the Summit County Medical Examiner's office said it was a 33-year-old man who died.

"As Akron Fire was clearing the residence they discovered the deceased male on the top floor, underneath part of the tree that had landed on the house," he said in a release.

An update will come once a the medical examiner makes a positive identification and notifies next of kin, Guenther said.

Tree fall prevention: Here's how Summit County residents can assess tree health on their property

A Barberton Tree Service employee preps a segment of the tree that fell through the roof of an Akron home to be lifted out with a crane on, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Akron, Ohio.
A Barberton Tree Service employee preps a segment of the tree that fell through the roof of an Akron home to be lifted out with a crane on, Wednesday, May 22, 2024, in Akron, Ohio.

Because of the size and complexity of the tree, Akron Mayor Shammas Malik gave authorization to call in a tree removal service, Price said. Barberton Tree Service was on the scene most of the afternoon removing the tree from the house so authorities could remove the body from the property, he added.

Around 2 p.m., crews had gone inside, but they hadn't been able to get into the attic since the home isn't structurally sound, Price said. Fire personnel surveyed the damage from their bucket and determined it was too unsafe to enter.

"The floors are collapsing right now, so it's not like we can just send guys in there rushing and checking the place − we're gonna get people hurt," Price said Wednesday afternoon. "We know it's a recovery right now. We're told that there's only one person in there. We've gone inside for the most part, but as far as like stomping around in the attic, it's a touchy situation, so we have to get the tree out first."

The Summit County Medical Examiner arrived around 3 p.m. Price said around that time, fire department personnel were working to get into the attic to recover the body. He confirmed the body was recovered around 4 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Man killed after tree falls on Sumner Street Akron, Ohio home