29-year-old Google engineer killed by tree branch in tragic accident on Yosemite trail
A young Google software engineer has tragically died after being struck by a falling tree branch while hiking along one of Yosemite National Park’s most popular trails earlier this month.
Angela Lin, 29, was walking through the Tuolumne Grove of giant sequoias on 19 July with her boyfriend David Hua and two friends when the horrifying incident unfolded. The group were enjoying a day out when, without warning, a loud crack sounded from above.
Hua told SFGate: “Two to three seconds later, branches fell out of the sky”.
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He added: “One big branch struck Angela, and then there were a bunch of smaller ones directly behind me.”
Hua recalled closing his eyes as the branches fell, only to open them moments later to find Lin lying on the ground with blood pooling around her head. He immediately dialled 911 and performed CPR until a park ranger arrived and took over.
Emergency crews reached the scene, but Lin never made it to an ambulance. According to Hua, first responders later said the impact from the branch had likely killed her instantly.
He said over the phone with a shaky voice: “It was just unimaginable that something like this could occur,”.
“On such a popular trail, too.”
The Tuolumne Grove trail was closed for about a week following the accident while Yosemite officials launched an investigation. However, Lin’s loved ones say they have been left frustrated by the lack of information from park authorities.
Hua explained: “We are seeking more information from the park service regarding this incident, especially around trail safety, maintenance and awareness of problematic trees on popular trails, and future prevention of similar incidents”.
The freak accident also haunted bystanders who witnessed the tragic aftermath.
One tourist, who had been nearby at the time, later wrote on Reddit: “I am a tourist, but was on the scene of an extremely tragic freak accident in the area trying to provide [aid], and it has been haunting me. I can’t stop thinking about it and can’t find any news articles updating about the situation. It hits so so hard because they were doing nothing wrong or careless… Life can be so cruel.”
While fatalities in Yosemite are rare, falling trees have caused deadly incidents before. Last year, a 22-year-old Australian hiker died after being crushed by a tree on the park’s Four Mile trail. In 2015, two teenagers were killed when a tree limb crashed onto their tent while they slept.
Hua stressed that Lin’s death was especially shocking given how cautious she was on hikes. He said: “The sad thing is that Angela is the most cautious person you can be”. “
She is super careful. She stays on trails. She never goes off trails”.
Lin, who earned a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin, had been described by friends and colleagues as whip-smart, kind, and dedicated to her work.
A Google spokesperson said to SFGate: “We lost a loved and respected member of our team. We’re very saddened by this tragedy, and our hearts are with their family and loved ones.”