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    Yosemite employee killed by wind-blown tree

    Associated Press – Sat, Jan 21, 2012

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Yosemite National Park employee has died after strong winds uprooted a huge tree that fell on his tent cabin.

    Park spokesman Scott Gediman says 27-year-old Ryan Hiller, of Chapel Hill, N.C., was killed Saturday by a branch from the tree. Hiller worked as a park ranger during busy periods, but had been working as a park concessioner and stayed in the Yosemite Valley stable complex as he waited for the winter ski season.

    The strong gusts were part of a winter storm sweeping across Northern California over the weekend.

    Gedimane says rain fell on the park and winds knocked down many large trees, but no other injuries have been reported.

     
     
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    705 comments

    • Michael
      Michael  •  1 mth 5 days ago
      The only good thing about this story is that he was doing what he loved when he passed!!
    • sweettart
      sweettart  •  Circle, Montana  •  1 mth 5 days ago
      That man was so young, he had his whole life ahead of him. My condolences to his family.
    • Tom B
      Tom B  •  Baltimore, Maryland  •  1 mth 5 days ago
      Terribly sad. I worked a year at Yosemite back in the 70's and it's one of the great experiences of my life. I feel for the loss of life of this young man. Good bye, and God bless.
    • blondie54
      blondie54  •  Los Angeles, California  •  1 mth 5 days ago
      to all of you making snide comments about the tent cabin, just stop. it's in curry village. there's an employee section there. i know the area well and i'd call it a freak accident. my sincere condolences to his family and friends.
    • Chaka Likes Fire
      Chaka Likes Fire  •  Las Vegas, Nevada  •  1 mth 4 days ago
      Because trees are dangerous, they must leave!
    • dillhole
      dillhole  •  1 mth 4 days ago
      Life can be so senseless and cruel. Live each day like it is your last.
    • Flannigan
      Flannigan  •  1 mth 4 days ago
      It's sad he had to leave, instead of the tree.
    • Jerry V
      Jerry V  •  26 days ago
      If a tree falls in the woods..... Oh, never mind.
    • sweettart
      sweettart  •  Circle, Montana  •  1 mth 5 days ago
      Back in 1985 while watching TV in my livingroom, I decided to go into the kitchen to get something to drink. As soon as I left the livingroom and entered the kitchen I heard an extremely loud noise behind me. I ran into the kitchen, then turned around, and saw that what used to be the livingroom had caved in. I later discovered the wind had blown down a huge tree that grew in our front yard. It fell onto the roof of my house over the livingroom. If the idea to go see if there was something to drink in the kitchen hadn't entered my mind, I would have been smashed flat as a bug under a rug. Falling trees are loud by the way, sounded like an explosion.
    • La twa twa Dribbles
      La twa twa Dribbles  •  1 mth 5 days ago
      Living his dream no doubt. RIP young man.
    • Cindy
      Cindy  •  Topeka, Kansas  •  1 mth 4 days ago
      What were the odds of that happening? You just never know when it's going to be your time. Maybe we can all learn something from this.
    • Billy B
      Billy B  •  1 mth 5 days ago
      I'm amazed I've made it 68 years, rough planet.
    • eo89s
      eo89s  •  1 mth 4 days ago
      #$%$ that sucks
    • RichardL
      RichardL  •  Monroe, Louisiana  •  1 mth 4 days ago
      I have been out cutting trees and had the top of another tree, less than 50 yards away, break off in the wind, that big snapping sound and how quick that top comes down will surprise you.
    • And so it begins
      And so it begins  •  1 mth 4 days ago
      I was hunting in a beach wood forest one year with temperatures below zero. Huge branches started to break off and fall like spears into the frozen ground. I walked in the open as much as possible with an eye on the sky. Strange feeling when all around you 6 inch branches are raining. The forest can be dangerous.
    • Cameron
      Cameron  •  1 mth 4 days ago
      Ryan was one of my best friends, and my roommate in college. I'm gonna miss him, but he died doing what he loved.
    • GabrielS
      GabrielS  •  Los Angeles, California  •  1 mth 5 days ago
      My profound condolences to their families
    • Charles Martels
      Charles Martels  •  1 mth 4 days ago
      R.I.P. young man! I'm pouring a drink to honour you, cheers lad :(
    • ObservingReader
      ObservingReader  •  1 mth 1 day ago
      Condolences to the family and friends of this young man, what a shame.
    • WazzzzzUp
      WazzzzzUp  •  Durhamville, New York  •  1 mth 5 days ago
      RIP Ryan
     Post a comment
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