Girl hit by branch in Atlanta park still critical

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By Larry Hartstein and Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The 5-year-old struck by a falling branch while she played on a swing Sunday remains in critical condition at Children's Hospital of Atlanta at Egleston.

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Vino Wong, vwong@ajc.com The playground remains closed until crews can determine what caused the limb to fall.

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A tree fell and injured two young girls at John Howell Park in the Virginia Highland neighborhood. "This is a healthy tree," said Michael Stewart, Urban Forest Manager of City of Atlanta. "This is just a freak accident," he said while inspecting the 60-foot tree where a thick branch fell on the girls while they were on a swing set.

Vino Wong, vwong@ajc.com A tree fell and injured two young girls at John Howell Park in the Virginia Highland neighborhood. "This is a healthy tree," said Michael Stewart, Urban Forest Manager of City of Atlanta. "This is just a freak accident," he said while inspecting the 60-foot tree where a thick branch fell on the girls while they were on a swing set.

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Allison Vasquez was one of two girls hit by the branch at John Howell Park, in the 800 block of Virginia Avenue. The limb broke off a sweet gum tree about 60 feet above, according to the police report released Wednesday.

Allison had internal bleeding from multiple rib fractures, the report says.

The other girl, 5-year-old Brandy McCarey, sustained cuts and bruises.

A witness told police a small branch fell and brushed the girls, then a large limb "clocked" them. Allison "was actually hit so hard she was flipped backward off the swing," the witness said.

The park's playground remains closed. Parks Commissioner George Dusenbury said Monday that workers inspected the trees surrounding the playground, and "minor forestry work will be completed as soon as possible."

A city arborist will inspect more than 100 other playgrounds the next few weeks, Dusenbury added.

The playground, known as the Cunard Memorial Playground, was a community project completed in 2004. The playground honors Lisa Cunard and her two young sons, who were all killed when a massive tree fell on their SUV during a storm in 2003.