Coroner IDs Woman Crushed To Death By Falling Tree: Inland OC

TUSTIN, CA — A woman perished when a large eucalyptus tree fell on top of her vehicle, marking the first casualty of the high winds blasting through Orange County Monday.

Dennet O. Bermas, 34, of Tustin was pronounced dead at the scene at just after 9 a.m., Orange County Sheriff's Department information officer Carrie Braun said. Bermas lived at the apartment complex where the accident happened, according to Braun.

She was pulling her car out of a carport, in a lot near the apartments on the 14000 block of Red Hill, when the tree fell onto the vehicle, crushing the car and downing power lines, Braun said.

OCFA technical rescue teams were sent to the scene about 9:15 a.m. and pronounced Bermas deceased shortly after, according to Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Tony Bommarito.

The team remained and worked to remove the woman's body from the crushed vehicle. The victim's name was withheld, pending notification of her relatives.

The circumstances of the death were under investigation. The weekend downpour and Santa Ana windstorm were expected to be factors, Bommarito said.

Southern California Edison was called regarding downed power lines at the scene, and Bommarito added that "wires are down all over Tustin and Santa Ana" due to the winds.

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