A four-year-old girl was fighting for her life Sunday after a giant eucalyptus tree crashed down on a joyous wedding party, killing one person and injuring eight in a Whittier park.
About 20 members of the wedding, gathered under the tree for pictures meant to last a lifetime, were trapped by the massive trunk and limbs.
There was no word why the tree was uprooted at that exact moment, nor if recent rains may have weakened its root system.
It wasn’t known if the bride and groom were among the injured or what relationship the critically injured girl had to the newly married couple.
The tragedy happened at 4:33 p.m. Saturday at William Penn Park in the 13900 block of Penn Street, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
One person was pronounced dead at the scene, Whittier police Lt. Bryan Ellis said. Eight people were taken to two hospitals.
The 4-year-old girl was hospitalized in critical condition due to head trauma, police said.
Penn Park is a scenic location popular for weddings and photography, Ellis said.
— City News Service