On a stormy Thursday night at Matthew Henson State Park in Montgomery County, a woman was fatally injured when a tree came crashing down across a trail. Paramedics found her pinned beneath the tree with life-threatening injuries, and she was later pronounced dead. Authorities have not released her name, and investigators are still working to piece together exactly what happened. The incident was first reported at about 9 p.m.
Montgomery County Fire & Rescue crews initially reported the call as coming from a trail off Georgia Avenue, and emergency responders said the woman was already trapped under the tree when they arrived. Maryland-National Capital Park Police, Montgomery County Division, later confirmed she died from her injuries. Several other downed trees were reported across the county that night amid high winds, and much of the DMV was under severe thunderstorm warnings when the call came in, as reported by FOX 5 DC.
Park Police And Patrols
The Matthew Henson Trail and its surrounding stream-valley park fall under the jurisdiction of the Maryland-National Capital Park Police, Montgomery County Division. The division lists the Matthew Henson Trail among its trails of emphasis and coordinates with county fire crews on rescues and trail incidents. The Park Police provide contact details and patrol information for the area. For more about the Park Police division, see Maryland-National Capital Park Police — Montgomery County Division.
How To Report Hazardous Trees
If you come across a downed tree that poses an immediate danger, officials say you should call 911. For non-emergency hazards, Montgomery Parks asks visitors to submit an online report or call the Public Information & Customer Service office at 301-495-2595. The department says it will issue a work order so an arboriculture inspector can evaluate the tree and prioritize any emergency work. For details on reporting, visit Montgomery Parks Public Information & Customer Service.
What Officials Say Next
Officials say the investigation remains ongoing, and the victim has not yet been identified publicly. It was not immediately clear whether the woman had been hiking alone, and Park Police did not release additional details about the tree’s condition. County agencies are coordinating the response and will provide updates as they become available, according to FOX 5 DC.
