A Termite Infested Maple Tree Fell Over Killing Four Children
A Termite Infested Maple Tree Fell Over Killing Four Children
Towering trees that reach heights of several stories are often considered majestic sights, especially when they seem out of place within a neighborhood. However, you may overlook the fact that a tall tree can pose a serious, or even deadly hazard to individuals. After all, trees have to fall over at some point. Obviously, extremely large trees that have sustained termite damage are particularly dangerous, as they may become too weak to support their own weight. Uninhabited forest regions that contain tall termite ravaged trees are not much of an issue to human safety. But when such trees are adventitiously located within neighborhoods, they are like ticking time-bombs. People tend to notice termite damage to popular trees that are located within parks neighborhoods. Several years ago, many residents of Queens, New York notified city officials about a seven story silver maple tree that they believed had become damaged by termites. The residents were worried that the tree would fall over and harm one, or several, individuals in the future unless the city addressed the situation. Apparently, the city did not make any effort to inspect the tree. Sadly, a few years afterwards, the tree in question fell over and killed four children.
Six young girls were riding as passengers in a van that had been transporting them to Allen Christian School in Queens, New York. The van was stopped in traffic while located next to the silver maple tree. That day had been particularly windy, which caused the maple tree to sway back and forth. The driver sensed the possibility of the tree pummeling the van, but it was too late, as four girls in the back seat of the van had been killed upon impact. Luckily, a couple of students in the front seat survived, despite sustaining serious injuries.
Several neighbors claimed that they had notified the city of the decrepit state of the tree numerous times. According to city officials, someone had requested an inspection of the tree four years prior, but the inspection never took place because the seventy year old tree did not pose an “immediate hazard.” After the tree fell, experts noted that the tree had sustained extensive termite damage.
Do you believe that tall trees should be inspected for termite infestations regularly in order to avoid tragedies like the one described in this blog?