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Maui man dies after pole touches power line while picking breadfruit

A 55-year-old man died Saturday after he fell while picking breadfruit in Wailuku, Maui police said.

Police identified the man today as Joseph Riveira, of Wailuku. His exact cause of death was under investigation.

Riveira was using an aluminum pole to pick fruit from a tree at a Waiale Road residence when the pole touched an overhead high voltage power line at about 11:20 a.m., police said.

Riveira apparently was shocked and fell from the tree onto the ground, police said. Emergency responders found him lifeless and pronounced him dead at the scene.

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