[bloodrayne]

Man Dies After Being Sucked Into Wood Chipper

New Windsor, New York - An immigrant from Guatemala was killed Wednesday when he was sucked into a wood chipper while working on a tree-cutting job here, authorities said.

Julio Hernandez, 42, of Highland Mills was working behind a home putting cut pieces of wood into the chipper when the accident happened, said police.

When the machine suddenly stopped operating, the owner of the tree service that employed Hernandez went to check out what happened and found the body in the chipper.

``It was an instant death,'' said Orange County Coroner Kevin Quigley, who pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

Authorities were not sure how Hernandez got caught up in the machinery, although Quigley told the Times Herald-Record of Middletown that Hernandez ``could have been dragged in by the branches.''

Police said there was some indication Hernandez went in feet first, but that could not be confirmed.

Hernandez left behind a wife and several children, most of whom are living in Guatemala.

New Windsor is 50 miles north of New York City.