Man Died after Pinned by Burning Tree

HARRISON COUNTY — A Waskom man died Thursday morning when a burning tree fell and pinned him as his son tried to free the 61-year-old. Nathaniel Fletcher had been burning the tree in preparation for cutting it down when his son heard an explosion in the backyard in the 800 block of Fox Hunting Road. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department said the son called 911 at about 11:00 reporting he was able to roll all but the largest portion of the tree pinning his father’s legs. Sheriff’s deputies and fire crews removed the tree to find Fletcher’s legs broken along with multiple lacerations and burns. Fletcher was pronounced dead at the scene.