Latest news with #TuolumneCountySheriff
New York Times
31-07-2025
- New York Times
In Yosemite, Falling Tree Branches Kill a Young Hiker in ‘Freak Accident'
The trails of Tuolumne Grove, a popular site in Yosemite National Park, wind through forests of pine and giant sequoias, the largest trees on earth. On July 19, after hiking about a mile into the grove, Angela Lin, 29, and her friends heard a snapping sound above them. 'Two to three seconds later, branches fell out of the sky,' Ms. Lin's friend, David Hua, told SFGate. 'One big branch struck Angela and then there were a bunch of smaller ones directly behind me.' Mr. Hua said he closed his eyes as the branches crashed down. When he opened them, he saw Ms. Lin on the ground, blood pooling around her head. He called 911 and performed CPR until a ranger took over. This week, the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office released a statement about the incident, identifying Ms. Lin and saying that an autopsy had determined that her death was accidental, resulting from blunt injuries. It said a ranger had responded at about 6 p.m. that day after reports that a hiker had been fatally struck by 'falling portions of a tree.' The news has generated interest in the accident, a rare occurrence along a popular trail in one of the nation's busiest national parks. News reports have focused on the allure of venturing into the wilderness despite its potential risks. Falling branch deaths are uncommon but not unheard of. Two campers died after a branch fell on their tent in Yosemite in 2015. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
CBS News
28-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Suspect at large after high-speed chase in Tuolumne County on Memorial Day ends in crash
JAMESTOWN – A search is ongoing for a suspect who got away after a high-speed chase ended in a crash in Tuolumne County on Memorial Day, the California Highway Patrol said. Around 10 p.m. on Monday, a CHP officer stopped a driver who they say was speeding on eastbound Highway 108, west of Green Springs Road — located about 35 miles northeast of Modesto near the Red Hills Recreational Management Area. But when the officer ran a check on the driver's license and license plate, the CHP said the driver of the 2025 Nissan Rogue took off. The driver eventually made a U-turn near Chicken Ranch Casino and headed west on Highway 108. Officers said the driver reached speeds "well over 100 mph" and crossed double yellow lines on several occasions. The chase continued onto southbound La Grange Road when the driver sideswiped a 2025 Honda Accord near Cooperstown Road, causing minor injuries to the Accord driver. The crash caused the Nissan to become disabled, and the suspect took off running. Despite help from the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office canine unit and the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office helicopter, the CHP said the suspect was not located. The CHP said the suspect has been identified but has not released that information.
