Yosemite employee killed by wind-blown tree
Jan 22, 2012, 3:32 AM
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.
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