Hazelwood woman killed in tree pruning accident

Sarah Stout, 45, was watching her neighbor, off-duty Hazelwood Police Sergeant James Sieve, trimming the oak tree in her front yard on the afternoon of June 10 when the branch struck her, according to Hazelwood police, who handled the incident. She died shortly afterward.

“This was a huge, huge monster accident,” said Hazelwood Police Chief James Hudanick, adding that the two families are “very close.”

Stout and her family lived on a quiet street north of Hazelwood West High School. She was known for her kindness, generosity and strength, her obituary said, and was passionate about caring for those in need.

Stout’s family and Sieve declined to comment.

According to a Hazelwood police report describing the incident, Stout was standing outside her home on Woodcrest Lane last Monday and watched Sieve decorate the tree with her 8-year-old son.

As Sieve, 44, was sawing off the large branch with a chainsaw, the branch jammed the saw, causing it to become stuck in the branch and hinder his work, he told an officer. He said he then began sawing off the rest of the branch with a handsaw.

When the branch began to break off, he shouted at Stout, “It’s about to go away,” and told her several times to go back, the police report said.

Stout tried to move away from the tree, Sieve said, but the branch landed on the leafy part of the tree and then “snapped back, sending the lower end of the branch” flying toward Stout, police said.

The branch, which was about 10 inches in diameter and weighed “several hundred pounds,” hit Stout and she collapsed to the ground, Sieve said.

Sieve told police he climbed down from the tree, pulled the branch off her and began CPR. He said 911 was called within about 30 seconds.

When a Hazelwood police officer arrived at the home, he said he took over CPR on Sieve, who was still wearing his harness. Several people were outside near Stout’s driveway at the time.

When they reached the house, Hazelwood paramedics took over, the official said, and loaded her into an ambulance. Her husband arrived about that time, and he and their son followed the ambulance in a separate car.

Hudanick said the incident had no criminal elements. Hazelwood police are investigating it as a sudden death.

Stout’s funeral was held Saturday at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Church in Ferguson, according to her obituary.

“Sarah brought joy and light to all who knew her and was a perfect example of what a human being should be,” her obituary said. “Her family was her world and she dedicated her life to their happiness and well-being.”

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration reports that there are an average of over 100 deaths each year due to falling landscaping and trees.

Ansley Franco of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.