A Laurinburg man died Monday morning after a tree fell on him, according to Laurinburg police.

Lt. Rodney Strickland says 58-year old Edward Norton, known to most as "Skibo," stepped into the path of a tree as it was falling.

Police did not have an address for Norton.

The tree, on city of Laurinburg property, was scheduled for removal after being declared a "hazard to the public" because of disease and decay.

Witnesses told officers that Chance's Tree Service was cutting down the tree as Norton watched. He approached the work crew several times and each time was told to keep his distance for safety.

When Norton approached the last time, workers did not have time to ask him to leave before the tree fell. Norton was struck at about 7 a.m.

Norton was rushed to the hospital, where he died from internal injuries while in surgery, officials said.

According to the police lieutenant, the employees of Chance's Tree Service appeared distraught. He said that one employee was unsure if he could go back to work after the incident.

Strickland says police ruled incident an accident.

Bill Riemer, director of administration and community development, says the city is looking into the incident.

"It was obviously a tragic accident," Riemer said. "We are going to talk to the contractor and make sure things were set up properly."