Tragedy in Tahoe National Forest
Last week, a tragic accident occurred at Yuba County’s Schoolhouse Campground. The campground is part of the Tahoe National Forest near Bullards Bar Reservoir. Early in the morning, just after daybreak, a massive tree came crashing onto a tent that housed a sleeping family of three children and their parents. A 13-year-old boy was killed, and his younger brother, for whom the extended family had gathered at the campground to celebrate his birthday, suffered a broken leg and was taken to the hospital.
Family members in a nearby tent say that preceding the tree crashing down, they heard a snap, a thunderous noise, and the terrifying sound of the tree coming down, followed by horrible screaming.
Following the unthinkable incident, the fallen tree was removed by maintenance crews. The family has expressed their wish that the trees in the area be checked more frequently in the future in hopes that no other family has to suffer such a tragedy.
A GoFundMe account has been established to assist the family with funeral and other expenses.
Schoolhouse Campground
The Schoolhouse Campground is located near Bullard’s Bar Reservoir on Marysville Road. It is situated near two boat ramps, Dark Day and Cottage Creek. There are 100 campsites within the campground. This terrible incident occurred just after the campground had re-opened after lifting COVID-19 restrictions.
Management of planning and maintenance resources for the Tahoe National Forest is handled by the United States Department of Agriculture – Forest Service.
The Foreseeable Terror of Tree Accidents
The simplest way our human minds can explain such a heartbreaking event is to label it a “freak accident,” but in actuality, trees and tree limbs fall with regularity in California and sometimes cause severe injuries and deaths. Northern California, in particular, has a combination of several factors that make tree accidents somewhat predictable. This region of the country is home to thousands of massive trees – including redwood forests, sycamore groupings, eucalyptus groves, and lands filled with heritage oaks. The region is also prone to hot, dry weather and moderate to severe winds. These factors combine to result in yearly reports of trees falling on property, vehicles, and, unfortunately, sometimes humans. When an object the size of a tree or massive branch strikes a person, the injuries can be catastrophic – often disabling or deadly.
When trees are not inspected or maintained regularly, the predictability of tree falls is heightened. Trees require regular trimming and other maintenance to stay healthy. Trees in a weakened state are prone to falling or limb breakage and present a significant danger.
Legal Liability for Tree Accidents
When a tree falls on private property and injures someone, the finding of liability (fault) towards the homeowner rests on negligence.
When a tree accident that causes injury occurs on public or government-controlled land, there are different criteria and much shorter time limits in which to act. An experienced tree accident lawyer can provide assistance in navigating the challenges and complexities involved in such a case.
Below is a news clip reporting on the recent campground tragedy.
Tree Accident Lawyer – Chico, California
I’m Ed Smith, a Chico tree accident lawyer. We are saddened to read of this recent tragic death of a young teenager. Each year in our part of the country, tree accidents occur and sometimes result in catastrophic injuries and deaths. If someone you love was killed or suffered severe injuries due to a fallen tree, do not hesitate to call my office for free and friendly advice. I can be reached locally at (530) 392-9400 or if you are out of the area at (800) 404-5400.
We are grateful that many of our prior clients have graciously taken the time to write reviews about services; they can be found at Yelp, Google, and AVVO. Our verdicts and settlements page highlights some of our case successes.
Image by: https://pixabay.com/photos/camp-forest-summer-holidays-group-1163419/
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