{"id":17438,"date":"2016-12-19T06:45:53","date_gmt":"2016-12-19T06:45:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=17438"},"modified":"2016-12-19T06:49:09","modified_gmt":"2016-12-19T06:49:09","slug":"whittier-park-closed-after-tree-toppled-over-killing-1-and-injuring-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/news\/whittier-park-closed-after-tree-toppled-over-killing-1-and-injuring-7.html","title":{"rendered":"Whittier park closed after tree toppled over, killing 1 and injuring 7"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Whittier park closed after tree toppled over, killing 1 and injuring 7<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

Whittier park closed after tree toppled over, killing 1 and injuring 7:-<\/strong> First came a snapping sound, almost like a firecracker, witnesses said. Next came the chorus of screams.<\/span><\/p>\n

Federico Flores turned Saturday afternoon in Whittier\u2019s Penn Park and saw a large tree crashing down toward a wedding party, sending a group dressed in gowns and tuxedos scrambling for safety that some could not reach.<\/span><\/p>\n

The eucalyptus tree, estimated to measure more than 80 feet tall, killed one woman and injured seven other people, including a 4-year-old girl who was listed in critical condition with head trauma, according to Whittier Police Department officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

The mother lost her life. A 4-year-old is injured. How do you explain it? You can\u2019t.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe mother lost her life. A 4-year-old is injured. How do you explain it? You can\u2019t,\u201d Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri said on Sunday. \u201cThe tragedy of the situation is on the hearts and minds of many people. We need to pray for the family because of the injuries and losing someone on a day that\u2019s supposed to be a great celebration.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Those in the wedding party were taken to a nearby community center where mental health counselors and chaplains were on hand to console them, fire officials said. Meanwhile, crews used search dogs to make sure no others were pinned underneath the tangle of branches.<\/span><\/p>\n

Penn Park, at nearly 6 acres, is popular for wedding photos because of its stately trees. Officials have closed it indefinitely until a certified arborist can inspect the tree and determine why it fell, according to City Manager Jeff Collier. The mayor said the tree was at least 50 years old.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before the park is reopened, the city will also evaluate other trees and ensure there is no risk of them falling, Collier said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fire officials suspect recent rainfall coupled with California\u2019s withering drought, now in its sixth year, may have played a role in the tree\u2019s failure.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve seen this happen throughout Southern California with both the drought conditions \u2014 trees are stressed \u2014 and we did have a large amount of rain,\u201d said Deputy Chief John Tripp of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.<\/span><\/p>\n

A storm system dumped 1.85 inches of rain on Whittier on Thursday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service.<\/span><\/p>\n

Last July, an 85-foot pine tree fell onto dozens of young day campers outside a museum in Pasadena\u2019s Brookside Park, critically injuring two children.<\/span><\/p>\n

An arborist\u2019s report later concluded that the prolonged drought, a lack of strong roots and a burst of rain were the main reasons behind the tree\u2019s collapse. Pasadena had received 0.61 inches of rain in the 10 days before the incident.<\/span><\/p>\n

Source:-\u00a0http:\/\/www.latimes.com\/local\/lanow\/la-me-ln-whittier-tree-20161218-story.html<\/span><\/div>\n

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