A Parkland High School cross-country runner remains hospitalized after a tree snapped and struck him during team practice at Little Lehigh Parkway in Allentown, leaving him unconscious and without a pulse until Allentown medics performed CPR on scene. First responders arrived just before 9:30 a.m. Saturday to find the teen unresponsive near Oxford and Park Drives, where the tree had snapped nearly completely off its trunk during gusty winds and rain from a passing nor'easter.
The runner was treated for head and spinal injuries after medics restored his pulse and got him breathing again before transporting him to Lehigh Valley Children's Hospital, according to 6abc Philadelphia. Allentown EMS Chief Mehmet Barzev described the incident as unprecedented, the station reported. The teen is being closely monitored, per the same account.
Storm Conditions Set the Stage
The National Weather Service's report for September 28 recorded 0.22 inches of precipitation in Allentown and a highest gust of 19 mph that day. A passing nor'easter brought rain and gusty winds over the weekend.
Parkland entered the 2026 season as two-time defending Eastern Pennsylvania Conference regular-season champions and four-time consecutive conference tournament champions, per D11 Sports. Parkland's team gathered to train at the park. Little Lehigh Parkway — a 629-acre park that hugs Little Lehigh Creek — is a popular route for local runners and competitive teams alike, according to the site's Wikipedia entry.
Longtime Park Visitors Say Fallen Trees Are Rare
Sandy Abdalla said a whole tree down was not something usually seen at the park, the 6abc report noted. Neal Novak, who has walked the trail for well over 30 years, said trees very seldom collapse like that at the park.
Parkland School District officials said they cannot speak about the matter due to privacy laws, the station reported. Federal rules under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act restrict public school districts from releasing student medical details or personally identifiable information without parental consent, though FERPA does contain exceptions for emergency responders during an active crisis, according to the Public Interest Privacy Center. 6abc obtained a letter sent to parents Sunday night reporting that a student was critically injured during cross-country team practice.
Tree Strikes Runner During Practice
An Allentown Fire Department post said a large tree branch hit a juvenile during practice, according to WFMZ.
