One dead, five hurt after tree falls on wedding party
Digital Reporter
Sunday, December 18, 2016, 6:47 PM - A wedding in California turned into a nightmare Saturday, with one person dead and five injured.
The L.A. Times reports a wedding party was taking photos at a park in the community of Whittier when the large eucalyptus tree they were under collapsed and fell on them. Some of the party were able to extricate themselves, with the help of other guests, but six others remained trapped and had to be recovered by firefighters.
The tree was very large, and the Times said at least 100 firefighters were eventually involved, taking the branches apart with chainsaws while illuminated by mobile lights.
UPDATE: #PennIC CD Richardson onscene assessing the incident. 6 total patients at this time. Sadly 1 patient deceased.
— LACounty Fire PIO (@LACoFDPIO) December 18, 2016
The victims were rushed to hospital, but one, whom KTLA said was an older woman, died. Another victim, a four-year-old girl, was in critical condition with a head injury, the station says.
Eyewitnesses reported the tree split in two. The Associated Press reports an arborist will assess the tree to determine why it fell when it did, and quoted officials as saying California's ongoing drought, coupled with heavy rains in recent days, may have been a factor.
CThursday night storms dropped more than 70 mm on parts of southern California Thursday night into Friday, but one town in the north received more than 170 mm.
SOURCES: L.A. Times | KTLA | Associated Press
