Yesterday in Gilroy, California, a 65-year-old woman was fatally struck by a falling tree branch while cycling along Roop Road north of Leavesley Road. The bicyclist, whose identity has not yet been revealed, was immediately taken to the Regional Medical Center in San Jose, but unfortunately succumbed to her injuries, as reported by Mercury News.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is currently investigating the tragic incident. What remains unclear is the exact time of the event and what caused the branch to break off in the first place. The area of Roop Road, which runs along the southern border of Coyote Lake Harvey Bear Ranch County Park, is known for the trees that flank it. As NBC Bay Area pointed out, emergency crews arrived and began to treat the woman, but her injuries were too severe, and she later died at the hospital.
As the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident continues, the CHP is actively seeking information from witnesses. Anyone who may have seen the event unfold is urged to contact Officer J. Silveira at the Hollister-Gilroy area CHP office at (408) 427-0700. The bicyclist's identity will be released by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner-Coroner's Office once it has been confirmed and next of kin notified.
