An afternoon at Winthrop Elementary School in Melrose turned frightening on Monday when a large tree limb crashed down onto the playground, injuring two children and one adult. First responders arrived within minutes, taped off the area and treated the wounded as crews moved in around the fallen tree. Several students saw the limb come down, and school officials quickly pushed out an alert to families. The playground remains closed while investigators sort out what happened.
The Melrose Fire Department confirmed that two children and an adult were taken by ambulance to nearby hospitals, with at least one child reported as seriously injured, according to WCVB. Local TV footage showed a large tree stretched across playground equipment, with part of a fence visibly crushed.
Investigation and school response
Melrose police said officers responded just before 3 p.m., and the Melrose Mayor’s Office confirmed that the three victims were transported to hospitals, as reported by WHDH. Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Middlesex County district attorney’s office joined Melrose police at the scene, and school officials have kept the playground off limits while the investigation continues.
Scene and video
Aerial footage aired by local outlets captured the toppled tree draped over a jungle gym, with bright police tape cutting off access to the school lot, according to NBC10 Boston. Officials have not released a cause for the collapse or the names of those injured.
City tree care and next steps
The City of Melrose's Forestry Division is responsible for maintenance, pruning and removal of trees on public land, according to the City of Melrose Forestry Division. The city's FY26 appropriations also include money for tree planting, trimming and removals, per a city budget document. City officials have not said whether the particular tree that fell had ever been inspected, but the Forestry Division and the Department of Public Works are expected to review the area and evaluate other trees on school grounds.
Investigators have asked anyone with video or information about the incident to contact Melrose police or the Middlesex district attorney’s office, and the city plans to share more details when they are available, according to The Boston Globe. Families across the district are now waiting for official updates on the conditions of the injured children and on what steps the city will take to secure the campus.
