Landscaper Dies on the Job in Howard County

The owner of a Catonsville landscaping company who was cutting down a tree in Clarksville fell to his death along with part of the tree Tuesday, according to Howard County Police.

Police found Michael Joseph Dingle, 40, unconscious and not breathing when they responded to the 8500 block of Reservoir Road just after 10 a.m. 

According to police, Dingle, owner of Natural Way Design and Landscaping, was working in a tree with all of the rigging attached. Police say Dingle and his employee removed the top 15 – 20 feet of the tree; it went as planned.

After removing the top of the tree, however, the trunk uprooted, according to police. Dingle fell about 50 feet while still attached to the tree.

When police and EMS arrived, they were unable to resuscitate Dingle, according to police. He was pronounced dead at Howard County General Hospital shortly after 11 a.m. 

According to the Natural Way website, Dingle was born and raised in Catonsville, starting his own business after having worked with another local landscaping business.

He was interested in using native plants and organic materials, according to the website, and made house calls to help customers create natural, organic habitats.

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