Tree falls in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park, 4 hospitalized

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Four people were taken to the hospital Wednesday after a tree fell in Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park.

The incident happened around 4:30 p.m. on the 4200 block of South Concourse Drive, just east of Belmont Avenue.

According to witnesses, a group of older men was playing a game of dominoes when the tree came down.

“All of a sudden, I hear a crack of the sound of the tree coming down. I didn’t know what side it was coming from, really,” one witness said.

Their tables, chairs and game pieces could be seen crushed under the debris.

Police say the victims were taken to an area hospital in stable condition.

Witnesses say the men couldn’t get out of the way fast enough when the branch came down from at least 20 feet high.

“I was very scared because usually when they play dominoes. I would sit and watch my husband play. I’m just glad that we weren’t over there at that time,” said Danielle Gordon of Southwest Philadelphia.

Crews were on the scene quickly to remove the debris. Many of the trees in Fairmount Park are 100 years old or older.

The Department of Parks and Recreation said it’s investigating what may have caused this to happen.