A 75-foot tree fell on a group of kids at a summer camp outside Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon, injuring eight, including two who were sent to a nearby hospital in critical condition. Apparently they were doing arts and crafts directly under the tree when it fell on them.All of the 33 day campers were all accounted for and the museum planned to reopen as scheduled on Wednesday, Scheidler said.It was unclear what made the pine topple on a warm, clear summer day with minimal winds. The two children in critical condition were taken to Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center.
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Meanwhile, the conditions of the two critically injured children have improved somewhat, said Lisa Derderian, a spokeswoman for the Pasadena Fire Department. The Pasadena area has been in a four-year drought, which MSN News refers to as “severe” and “unrelenting drought”, and this may have contributed to the tree’s demise.
“On behalf of the city, I want to extend our thoughts and prayers to the injured children, especially those still hospitalized, and their families”, Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek said. We wish everyone a speedy and complete recovery.
The other six children suffered minor injuries.
“Our public spaces, especially the Arroyo, are unique and draw thousands of visitors each day, so it is a priority for the city to maintain both the beauty and safety of our parks and open spaces for all to enjoy”, Tornek said.
“We heard a crack and then I just caught a glimpse of the tree falling down”, said Andrew Aguiniga, a child at the park, as indicated by NBC’s Southern California affiliate. “And at that point we got a headcount and ensured that we did have accountability for all children, and that’s really when the first responders – who did a fabulous job – arrived on scene”.
Firefighters from the Pasadena Fire Department’s urban search and rescue team were on the scene with chain saws removing limbs and branches so they could see underneath the fallen tree to make sure no one else was trapped.
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The tree is located in Pasadena’s Brookside Park, just outside the museum grounds near the Rose Bowl.
