A San Jacinto man was nearly killed Saturday when part of a tree came crashing down on him, knocked loose by intense winds sweeping through the area. The man was crushed by the falling limb but survived the encounter, according to the report.
The incident was first reported by journalist Zach Boetto in a video segment for CBS News Los Angeles, which detailed how the man was nearly killed when part of a tree fell on him. The report does not identify the man by name, and his exact injuries, medical condition, and whether he was hospitalized could not be confirmed.
The timing lines up with dangerous weather that hit the region over the weekend. Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including San Jacinto, were placed under a severe thunderstorm warning by the National Weather Service at 2:03 p.m. Saturday, in effect until 2:30 p.m., according to pressenterprise.com. Forecasters cautioned residents to prepare for wind gusts of up to 60 mph.
Forecasters Warned of Roof and Tree Damage
The same advisory specifically warned that the storm could damage roofs, siding and trees, a forecast that echoes the scene described in the San Jacinto incident. San Jacinto was among the locations named in the warning, alongside Moreno Valley, Redlands, Yucaipa, Forest Falls, the Highway 243 corridor between Banning and Idyllwild, Highland and Colton, per the same advisory.
Separately, a forecast for San Jacinto called for showers with a high near 68 degrees and southwest winds of 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph, according to the National Weather Service forecast office. The available evidence does not establish the exact wind speed at the site of the incident or confirm that the warned conditions directly caused the branch to fall.
Falling Trees Have Hit Other Southern California Communities
The San Jacinto incident arrives amid a string of tree-related close calls across Southern California tied to strong winds this season. An updated high wind watch listed northeast winds of 25 to 35 mph, with gusts up to 55 mph possible, for the San Bernardino and Riverside County valleys, the National Weather Service noted in a report carried by sanluisobispo.com. That same advisory warned that damaging winds could blow down trees and power lines, with power outages possible.
Elsewhere in the region, Santa Ana winds toppled trees and power lines, with gusts exceeding 40 mph in some areas, according to ktla.com. Downed trees and power lines were reported in Winnetka and Canoga Park, and a tree toppled into power lines in Moorpark, forcing the closure of both directions of the 118 Freeway.
In Sylmar, a large pine tree crashed onto a home, punching holes through the roof and narrowly missing a child's bedroom, the outlet reported. In Anaheim, a palm tree fell onto a Tesla near the 5 Freeway, and the sister riding in the vehicle was injured and taken to the hospital.
Crushed Vehicles Add to the Pattern
Strong winds also toppled a large eucalyptus tree that crushed a car near homes on Tribune Street and White Oak Avenue in Granada Hills, though no injuries were immediately reported there, according to abc7.com. Taken together, the incidents point to a season of unusually damaging wind events across the region, with falling trees posing a recurring hazard to homes, vehicles and pedestrians alike.
Many details of the San Jacinto case remain unconfirmed, including the man's identity, the exact location of the incident, and whether the tree or branch was on public or private property. No official fire, police or emergency-response report for the incident has been made available, and it remains unclear whether any investigation or liability claim has followed.
