Child Dies After Tree Hits Car In Olympic National Park

Clallum County authorities are reporting that a child died after a large evergreen tree struck a car traveling along Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park on New Year's Day.

There were five people in the vehicle, authorities said: two grandparents and three children. One of the children was found dead at the scene. Two others and a grandparent were outside the vehicle, while the other grandparent was trapped inside.

The vehicle, a white SUV, was apparently headed back to Federal Way from Clallum Bay, which is located near the northwest tip of the Olympic Peninsula.

Two of the children and a grandparent were taken to Olympic Medical Center in Port Angeles; the other grandparent was flown by helicopter to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. All the victims were described as having serious injuries.

Multiple agencies responded to the crash including Clallum 2 Fire-Rescue, U.S. Park Rangers, and the Joyce Fire District. A number of passersby helped aid the victims, Clallum fire officials reported.

Image via Clallum 2 Fire-Rescue