Tall tree falls on car, kills parents of 5 kids

GoFundMe page established to help family

CRESCENT CITY >> A towering California redwood tree fell on a car as a couple drove on a scenic highway of the state’s northern coast, killing the parents of five children.

SFGate.com reported Monday that the accident happened last week when the 175-foot-tall tree fell on state Route 199 in an area heavily forested with the trees near Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park.

A news release from the California Highway Patrol said the incident happened last Thursday when the couple was driving a 2016 Honda Accord along state Route 199 near Walker Road west of Hiouchi.

“The large tree fell directly on top of the 2016 Honda, completely crushing the passenger compartment,” the CHP reported, noting the tree fell from the east side of the highway.

Jessica and Jake Woodruff were taking the drive to celebrate her 45th birthday when the tree fell, SFGate.com reported, citing a GoFundMe page established to support the family from the small California city of Yreka.

Officials did not know why the tree fell, California Highway Patrol Officer Brandy Gonzalez told SFGate. Winds were light at the time and there is no wind sensor where the accident happened, but a nearby sensor had recorded winds of 9 mph, National Weather Service fore

caster Ryan Aylward said.

“This is a very forested area,” Gonzalez said. “We have trees everywhere. It’s in the middle of the redwoods. It’s just old-growth and we have no idea why the tree fell. It was Mother Nature.”

The GoFundMe page had raised more than $200,000 as of early Tuesday afternoon.

“This was a shocking and unexpected event, and the tragedy of this accident makes it difficult to accept as real,” the page said. “These 5 children are now left without parents and are facing a lifetime of expenses.”

An update posted Monday thanked supporters for their generosity.

“There is no getting around the devastation and trauma the loss of Jessica and Jake has brought, and as we can all imagine, there is a long road ahead, especially for the children who have been left behind,” the GoFundMe page stated. “Knowing that this family, and these children have been shown so much support the past few days is beyond incredible.”