KELLY FARRELL / Staff

Island landscaper Abe Obeid turns around just before he leaves Steve and Sons Food Store to make a donation to the Mejia family. Obeid's friend, Angel Mejia, 34 was electrocuted on-the-job Monday trimming a palm tree that was touching a live power line in the Marco Island estates area. The Citgo gas station and store on the corner of San Marco Road and South Barfield Drive is collecting donations to send to the family to help raise money for a funeral service. Store owner Freddy Itayem said Mejas had a lot of friends who have helped contribute about $200 each day so far.

KELLY FARRELL / Staff

Angel Mejia, 34 was electrocuted on-the-job Monday trimming a palm tree in the Marco Island estates area. Mejia pictured in a red hat with his family in Mexico is survived by his wife and children, his son, now 5 and daughter, 7. Friends and acquaintances are filling a jar with donations for the family of Mejia, who was nicknamed "Tortuga," Spanish for turtle. Friends say Mejia was working on the island for about four years and planned to return to Mexico to reunite with his family this Christmas. Donations for the family are being collected at the Steve and Sons Food Store, part of the Citgo gas station on the corner of San Marco Road and South Barfield Drive.

KELLY FARRELL / Staff

Lee County Electric Cooperative responds to an electrocution at 1660 Copeland Drive, Marco Island's Estates area Monday. The 34-year old man was trimming palm fronds while working for Acunto Landscape and Design and died from the electrocution after being transported to the hospital.

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MARCO ISLAND — Marco Island resident Angel R. Mejia, 34, was electrocuted Monday afternoon while trimming palm fronds at a home in the Marco Island estates area.

Mejia died after being transported to Naples Community Hospital, said Marco Island Police Captain David Baer. Officials contacted the family and released the victim’s name Tuesday morning.

Marco police and Marco Island Fire and Rescue officials responded to a call of a possible electrocution at 1660 Copeland Drive at about 11 a.m., Monday.

“The man was still on a ladder which was leaning against a palm tree,” Baer said.

Mejia was being assisted by an Acunto Landscape and Design coworker who was also working on the tree, reported Marco Island Fire Rescue Chief Mike Murphy.

Fire rescue officials arrived on the scene of the accident within four minutes of a call from 911, he added.

“It’s reasonable to believe at this time that the tree he was working on was touching the electric line while he touched the branch,” Baer said.

Fire crews made contact with Lee County Electric Cooperative and were informed the power lines near the tree were still live. LCEC officials were immediately dispatched to the scene.

LCEC spokeswoman Karen Ryan said the electric company was contacted by the fire department about the incident and workers were immediately dispatched to the scene to shut power off to the home.

Ryan said she wasn’t exactly sure how long it took electric workers to disconnect power to the area but said “they were on island. It was likely a matter of minutes.”

Fire rescue personnel set up additional ladders and stabilized Mejia, who was dangling in a safety harness from the tree, Murphy reported.

The owner of the company said he could not comment on the incident.

The investigation continues as police work with Lee County Electric Cooperative and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the federal agency which enforces work place safety.