US Capitol maintenance worker killed by falling tree branch

WASHINGTON - WASHINGTON (AP) -- A maintenance worker at the U.S. Capitol has died after a large tree branch fell on top of him.

A statement from the Architect of the Capitol, Stephen Ayers, identified the man who was killed as Matthew McClanahan.

The statement says McClanahan, a pipefitter, was working on an irrigation pipe on Tuesday morning when a branch fell from an American Elm tree.

House Speaker Paul Ryan says in a statement that McClanahan leaves behind a wife and two young children, calling his death "sudden and unimaginable."

Police and firefighters freed McClanahan from under the branch and he was taken to a hospital in what fire officials described as "very critical" condition.

He later died. U.S. Capitol police say grounds crews are removing what remains of the tree.