Philly Jogger Killed by Falling Tree Branch

To the post written by "German, English, American guy," - don't be a complete jerkoff. Someone died and you're trying to make light of the situation. Thank God it wasn't you, douchebag.

A few years ago in Orlando one of the County Service Departments was called to clear a large tree that spread across a sidewalk and into the streetr. When they were cutting up the tree with a chaon saw, one of the workers stopped as he noticed a human leg. A female jogger was killed and under the tree. Very sad - and lucky they didn't cut her with the chain saw. But these are infrequet accidents - tragic, but accidents. I do agree with the poster that she may have been able to react if not listening to her I-Pod.

philarunner wrote:

Who was the Westchester County runner killed by a tree?

She wasn't IDed as of 10pm last night. Fox News gave a general description of her and what she was wearing, in case if anyone could ID her.

Honestly, how many people go out for a run with a form of ID? I only do that when I'm at work since my ID lets me into my office building.

Sorry, thought you meant West Chester, PA (same county as this recent accident).

Trailrunnergary wrote:

A female jogger was killed and under the tree. Very sad - and lucky they didn't cut her with the chain saw. But these are infrequet accidents - tragic, but accidents. I do agree with the poster that she may have been able to react if not listening to her I-Pod.

Did that lady have an i-pod on too?

I seriously doubt it would have made a difference. Last year, a lady got killed by a falling branch while she was in her car driving through an alley. Just because you don't think someone should listen to music while they are running doesn't mean it is what caused this accident. That is just ignorant.

More detail, including:

A passerby called 911, offered to perform CPR, and stayed with her until the ambulance arrived, said Dan Mercer, whose wife jogged by several minutes after the accident.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/20090807_Young_teacher_s_career_cut_short_in_jogging_accident.html

I just could not believe that someone could have left her, appears they did not.

I travel down to the Wissahickon a couple of times a year, to run with old friends from the area, and just enjoy one of the nicest running trails in an urban area that you will ever find. First run there was summer of 1965... and last one this past Saturday morning. Will be hard to pass through that part of the trail again without remembering this tragedy, amid such natural beauty, a special place to so many runners. May she rest in peace.

Listening to music doesn't cause an accident. Listening to music can be a contributing factor in one's ability to react as it could distract from one's awareness of surroundings.

i could easily imagine not waiting around. when you imagine what that tree must have done to her, and how horrible the scene could have been, i imagine it must have been tough to stand around there and look at her body while you wait for the police to arrive. besides, what is the passerby going to do - especially if they did not witness what happened?

It is not the music. It is not the Ipod. It is anything that diminishes your hearing, including music, including ipods.

She could have been wearing earplugs and singing to the top of her lungs to muffle the sound.

It would have interfered with hearing the branch.

It is not the Ipod. It is not the music.

It is diminished hearing, which contributes to an unfortunate occurence like a tree branch breaking off just as one is running under it, and fatally landing on the runner.

Do you get it now?

C/M Runner wrote:

Sorry, thought you meant West Chester, PA (same county as this recent accident).

False, this was in Philadelphia. WC is ways from where this tragedy occurred.

Very sad, it sounds like this girl was a saint.

She was a Bucknell alum and a teacher in North Philly.

horrible accident wrote:

i could easily imagine not waiting around. when you imagine what that tree must have done to her, and how horrible the scene could have been, i imagine it must have been tough to stand around there and look at her body while you wait for the police to arrive. besides, what is the passerby going to do - especially if they did not witness what happened?

If people don't wait around because of fear of a dead body or a tree branch, they need to grow some balls.

bodies arent scary wrote:

If people don't wait around because of fear of a dead body or a tree branch, they need to grow some balls.

Please, tell us about the time that you encountered a fresh dead body while going about about your day-to-day life, and how you handled that situation.

Calling BS on you, son...

low IQ finder wrote:

It is not the music. It is not the Ipod. It is anything that diminishes your hearing, including music, including ipods.

She could have been wearing earplugs and singing to the top of her lungs to muffle the sound.

It would have interfered with hearing the branch.

It is not the Ipod. It is not the music.

It is diminished hearing, which contributes to an unfortunate occurence like a tree branch breaking off just as one is running under it, and fatally landing on the runner.

Do you get it now?

So you are trying to make us believe that a person jogging on a trail that hears the snap of a very large branch 50 feet above her head would first know exactly where the sound came from, identify the path the tree limb will take and be able to move out of the path of that extremely large and heavy tree limb?

Check back when you find your higher IQ.

Today when I was running on trails I could hear a chain saw going. I figured a group of mountain bikers were out working on clearing a new trail or cutting up a fallen tree. I rounded the corner just in time to see a guy pushing over a large tree that was falling directly into my path. He first hollered, "Stop!" but then we both quickly realized that it would fall on me if I did, indeed, stop right there. So he hollered, "Go! Go!" I had already sprinted ahead and just kept on running. If I had come upon him a minute later I might have been hit because neither he nor I could see what was around the sharp bend in the trail. And my hearing was not impaired in any way. I know now not to assume anything when I hear a chain saw out there again.

What song was on her Ipod?

What the fugg is wrong with you? This poor young woman has a family, and was by ALL accounts a wonderful person.

Don't ever wonder again why things dont go all so well for you in life, it's because youre a total heartless asshole.

Not trying to make YOU believe anything.

Simply put, better hearing, less distraction, better chances.

Dont be a dumbass.

mr surprise wrote:

So you are trying to make us believe that a person jogging on a trail that hears the snap of a very large branch 50 feet above her head would first know exactly where the sound came from, identify the path the tree limb will take and be able to move out of the path of that extremely large and heavy tree limb?

by the time you typed all of that you are dead

Solution wrote:

We should cut down all trees to make the world a safer place.

Along with the tree huggers!