Yosemite Employee Killed By Wind-blown Tree

Published January 22, 2012 4:09AM (EST)

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.


By Salon Staff

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