A man was injured Saturday after he pushed his 5-year-old daughter out of the way of a falling tree in a public playground.
The incident occurred about 2:30 p.m. at Big Rock Park at 8125 Arlette St.
“A pine tree fell over in a playground injuring two people who were transported to a hospital for treatment,” a Heartland Fire & Rescue dispatcher said.
KFMB Channel 8 News said witnesses reported there was no indication the tree was about to topple over. They said the pushed his daughter out of the way when he saw the tree falling and took the brunt of the impact himself.
KFMB said the unidentified man was conscious and pinned underneath the tree.
The man sustained mild injuries and his daughter had some scrapes, the station said.
At the time of the incident, there were strong winds of 20 to 25 mph, KFMB reported.
The playground was closed. The fallen tree was cut into pieces to prepare it for removal.
Big Oak is a five-acre neighborhood park adjacent to Chet F. Harritt Elementary School, which serves as a trailhead to Mission Trails Regional Park.
The park has a large grass area available for self-directed play, as well as playgrounds, courts and a volleyball area.
— City News Service
