Horticultural Consultant Will Inspect Trees at Pleasanton Park Following Massive Branch Collapse

PLEASANTON, CA — A local horticultural consultant will assess the structural integrity of the remaining section of a heritage tree after a large branch of the tree suddenly crashed to the ground at a Pleasanton park Sunday afternoon. City officials say no one was injured and no property was damaged when a “branch failure” occurred at the Alviso Adobe Community Park.

Park witnesses said a massive section from one of the oak trees near the museum area often used for field trip lectures broke off, crashing to the ground and landing across some the stumps popular as seating and for photographs.

“It sounded like lightning and it fell immediately,” said Dublin resident Kerrie Chabot. “Someone could have been killed.”

Chabot's daughter, Camille Chabot, was standing under the tree on the stumps for a photo shoot just a few minutes before the collapse.

Police responded to the park, according to witnesses. City officials said crews were working to remove the branch debris Monday. HortScience, Inc. will also inspect the rest of the oak trees in the 7-acre park, city officials said.

Heritage trees are often considered irreplaceable and are determined by their age and size.

Photos courtesy Kerrie Chabot