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| Highland Dog Park, where a woman was struck by a falling tree Tuesday morning/Google |
Update: This story has been updated to include comments from the city’s Assistant City Administrator and Director of General Services, Ron Dill.
Reports are coming in that a woman was struck by a falling tree at the Highland Dog Park in Highland Park Tuesday morning.
According to officials, the incident occurred around 8 a.m. this morning, while the woman was standing in the dog park. She was taken to St. Elizabeth-Fort Thomas. Her injuries are not life-threatening, but are severe, including several broken bones.
She is currently in the surgical ICU center at UC. She was able to call police because her cell phone was in her pocket and she was able to reach it.
Ron Dill, the city’s Assistant City Administrator and Director of General Services, part of whose duties includes overseeing park maintenance, described the tree as “basically branchless,” and reported that the tree’s trunk snapped roughly 6-8 feet above the ground.
“We periodically check all of our parks throughout the year for trees that need addressed,” Dill explained to FTM over the phone Tuesday afternoon. “We also walk the fall zones periodically. Sometimes we receive tips from residents about trees that we need to look at.”
City workers removed the fallen pieces of the tree from the vicinity, and also investigated nearby trees for other signs of damage or impending damage.
The woman’s dog sustained no injuries, and is being cared for by Animal Control while the woman receives treatment.
The victim’s name has not been released.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
Any residents who see trees that appear to need attention from the city are encouraged to report them to General Services, by calling the city’s administrative offices, at 859-441-1055.