A man died Sunday after falling 45 feet from a boom lift basket while cutting trees in the backyard of a home at 1347 S. Highway 75 south of Blair. Rescue personnel tended to the man before he was transported to Memorial Community Hospital and Health System by Blair Rescue.

A man died after he fell an estimated 45 feet from a boom lift while cutting trees Sunday in the backyard of a Blair home. The man was identified as Marty Berg of rural Plattsmouth by homeowner Michael Long.

Blair Fire Chief Joe Leonard confirmed Berg died as a result of the accident.

Berg was cutting down trees at 1347 S. Highway 75. According to Long, Berg was reaching up to tie off the next branch when the accident occurred.

Long said he heard a snap as two bolts failed and the basket flipped upside down. Berg was attempting to hold on as a crew member tried to lower the boom. However, the basket gave way within seconds and Berg fell face first with the basket. The basket landed on top of Berg's back.

Traffic on U.S. Highway 75 was diverted for around 45 minutes for a medical helicopter. The helicopter landed at the scene, but Berg was transported by Blair Rescue to Memorial Community Hospital and Health System, where he died.

Fort Calhoun also responded to the call.

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library ~~~

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