Massive redwood tree falls and kills hiker in California park
National Park Service says it is investigating rare fatal incident possibly linked to recent winter storms
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A man was killed and another person injured by a massive redwood tree that fell inside a California national park, in what officials have described as an “unfortunate, tragic event” that occurred on Christmas Eve.
Subhradeep Dutta, a 28-year-old Minnesota resident, was visiting the Muir Woods National Monument when a tree measuring over four feet (one metre) in diameter collapsed.
Mr Dutta was reportedly with two other visitors at the time the tree fell onto a hiking path at around sunset, approximately 30 minutes before the park closed for the night.
“These were visitors exactly where they are allowed to be," Charles Strickfaden, a spokesperson for the National Park Service, told reporters in a statement. “It just seems to be an unfortunate, tragic event.”
One visitor escaped injury, officials said, while another one of the visitors with Mr Dutta was taken to a local hospital. Their condition has not been reported.
Witnesses told local news station KPIX-TV they heard a “colossal noise” and watched the tree fall towards the hiking path.
“I initially thought it was like an earthquake or something,” Alex Shepard, who was visiting the park on Tuesday with his mother, told the news outlet. “I had no idea. I had never heard a sound like that.”
Mr Strickfaden said in an email to the Associated Press that the tree’s roots may have been weakened by recent winter storms.
He wrote: “This is a very rare and isolated event that may have occurred due to wet ground from recent winter storms, around the roots of the tree.”
An estimated one million visitors flock to the national park — known for its large trees and breathtaking hikes — each year, according to the National Park Service.
The service announced it was launching an investigation into the incident. Much of the park was reopened by Christmas Day.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments