PROVO CANYON — An outing in a canyon park turned tragic Monday night when a large cottonwood tree fell over, crushing and killing a woman and her young granddaughter.
Killed were: Mollie Sorensen, 56, of Napa, Calif. and her granddaughter, Mollie Sorensen, 6, of Orem.
The fallen tree injured several other members of the family, which was celebrating a birthday and picnicking in the park.
"They were just lighting the candles there at a picnic table when the tree came crashing down on them," said Coy Porter, deputy Provo fire chief.
A 4-year-old girl was listed in serious condition Tuesday morning at Primary Children's Medical Center, where she was flown by helicopter following the accident. A 60-year-old man and a 7-year-old girl were treated for injuries at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center and released. A 40-year-old woman was treated at Timpanogos Hospital in Orem for injuries and released.
According to police reports, about 150 people were in the park when just after 9 p.m. the 80-foot tall tree came crashing down on two picnic tables in Big Springs Park. The Provo-owned park is located about two miles up the South Fork of Provo Canyon. The park was busy with several groups holding a variety of activities.
"Witnesses said they just heard a loud crack, looked up and the tree came down," Porter said.
The tree is about 3 feet in diameter, Porter said. There was a slight breeze in the canyon at the time but investigators don't know if it contributed to the accident. Investigators believe the tree's roots, which came completely out of the ground, had rotted.
The tree struck another large tree on its way down, knocking several large limbs out of that tree onto people below. Several people were trapped under the fallen tree and fallen limbs.
A student group from Brigham Young University on an activity in the park rushed to the scene and began rescuing victims from underneath the tree.
"There were 60 or 70 people there helping to move the tree the best they could," Porter said.
A physician at the scene treated a young boy with a small head wound. A counseling session was set up late Monday night at the Provo City Council Chambers for those who witnessed the tragic accident.
Paramedics and officers from Provo, Orem and Utah County responded to the accident. The road to South Fork was closed for more than two hours, and crews remained on the accident scene until about 2 a.m. Tuesday. An investigation into the cause of the accident was continuing Tuesday morning.
E-Mail: jimr@desnews.com