WASHINGTON — A 35-year-old woman was killed when she was hit by a large falling tree branch in Garfield Park on Wednesday morning.
Just before 7:30 a.m., DC Fire and EMS rescue workers responded to the scene at 3rd Street and G Street, Southeast for a medical call for service. When they arrived, they found a large tree down, crushing a woman.
The woman, later identified by police as Sarah Noah, was unconscious and not breathing when EMS arrived. Noah later died from her injuries.
Rescue workers said they checked the scene and found no one else injured by the fallen tree.
Neighbors told WUSA9 that Noah was walking her dog with her husband when she was killed.
“That happens, someone was killed basically in my front yard, is hard to process," said a neighbor that lives across the street from Garfield Park. “I ran outside, there was about a dozen people in a panic trying to figure out what to do. I walked over and I saw a body pinned underneath some branches. People were trying to figure out what to do, it was clear."
It was clear from talking to neighbors that the accident had left people in shock.
“I hope the city takes it seriously. You don’t want to wake up in the morning to walk your dog and end up this way," said a neighbor who didn't want to be identified. "This is not how a person should go. I don’t know what to say.”
“So heartbreaking, so sad. Just a freak accident," added Kate Huntress, one of many people who walk dogs through the park on a daily basis. "It could’ve happened to me. It could’ve happened to anyone. It’s really scary.”
Other neighbors say problems with this tree and others in the park had been brought to the city’s attention. DDOT told WUSA9 this tree was last inspected in 2022 after a complaint from a community member. They say the tree was found to be healthy.
“Every couple years or couple months a branch will fall from one of these trees. It was just a matter of time, I think, before somebody got struck by one," said a neighbor that lives across the street from the park. “They don’t look the best. You can see rot. You can see termite damage on some of them.”
“I hope this is a great reminder that they should take things more seriously," added another neighbor who didn't want to be identified.
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