WASHINGTON, D.C NEWS – Woman killed by falling tree branch while walking dog

Zoe Mckey, Staff Writer

A tragic incident occurred in Washington, D.C.’s Garfield Park on Wednesday morning when a woman in her 30s was killed by a falling tree branch while walking her dog. DC Fire and EMS received multiple calls around 7:25 a.m. about a person trapped under a fallen tree, and emergency crews found the woman pinned beneath a large branch. She was pronounced dead at the scene, and no other injuries were reported. The DC Department of Transportation (DDOT) officials stated that the tree showed no prior signs of failure, describing the incident as an “unforeseeable event.”

Earl Eutsler, associate director for DDOT’s Urban Forestry Division, mentioned that the 100-year-old swamp white oak tree was last pruned in July 2022 and inspected in May 2022. Despite their rigorous maintenance and inspection schedule, the tree unexpectedly failed. DDOT’s acting director, Sharon Kershbaum, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, emphasizing the department’s dedication to tree care. Nearly 30 certified arborists work for DDOT, performing ground inspections and using tools to detect decay. Annually, about 500 trees are removed, but the exact reason for this branch’s failure remains unknown.