Man killed by fallen tree on Stanford grounds

On March 21, native information outlet The Almanac reported that Jesus Ivan Cruz-Diaz, a 29-year-old San Jose resident, was killed when a eucalyptus tree on Stanford grounds fell onto his van whereas he was driving on Alpine Highway in Portola Valley close to Freeway 280. 

In response to The Almanac, Cruz-Diaz was leaving a job he accomplished for Ready Plumbing, Sewer and Drain when the tree fell on his work van on Alpine Highway close to the Freeway 280 south on-ramp. As rescuers had been trying to take away Cruz-Diaz from the automobile, a number of extra bushes fell and practically hit their autos, the outlet reported. There have been no different accidents detailed. Cruz-Diaz was pronounced useless on the scene after respondents had been capable of take away the branches off his automotive.

In an interview to The Almanac, Ladera resident Carol Espinosa stated that she hoped for a discount within the probability of dying and property harm brought on by falling bushes however stated that it was “not one thing that’s going to cease quickly.” 

The robust winds chargeable for the downed tree started plaguing the Bay Space on the time attributable to a uncommon however lethal atmospheric bomb cyclone that killed at the very least 5 individuals and derailed a prepare. In response to the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a bomb cyclone, often known as a bombogenesis by meteorologists, is a “cyclone [that] quickly intensifies, or strengthens, over a 24 hour interval.” 

Alpine Highway offers residents of Portola Valley with entry to Freeway 280, an essential emergency exit level for residents of the wooded area. In response to protection of the incident by Palo Alto On-line, residents of each Portola Valley and Ladera say that they’re calling upon Stanford to higher handle their bushes alongside Alpine Highway to forestall additional deaths and damages from occurring. 

In an e mail to The Almanac, Ladera resident Briana Fortnam stated that Stanford ought to consider the well being of their bushes on their property in Alpine Highway. “‘As you may see from the photographs, the tree that fell this morning was adjoining to the tree that killed Jesus Cruz final week. Stanford was requested to evaluate the well being of those bushes when the primary tree fell and killed a person final Tuesday. We now have not but heard of any motion taken to evaluate the hazard posed by these bushes,’” she wrote in an e mail to them. 

In response to College spokesperson Luisa Rapport on March 30, Stanford has begun eradicating eucalyptus bushes which were deemed hazardous by a licensed arborist who was employed to carry out a evaluate of the bushes on Alpine Highway and Freeway 280.

“We now have eliminated seven standing bushes within the space and have additionally accomplished intensive tree trimming and particles elimination. We proceed to coordinate our efforts with Santa Clara County, San Mateo County and Woodside Fireplace Safety District and have been in common contact with different native officers to share updates and tackle any neighborhood issues,” Rapport wrote in an e mail. Tree and particles elimination actions will proceed till April 15, however might stay ongoing if wanted.

On April ninth, family and friends of Cruz-Diaz gathered for a memorial service on the web site of his dying. Virtually $100,000 had been raised by his employer’s GoFundMe to pay for his funeral. 

“We’re very saddened by the tragic lack of life that occurred on account of the extraordinary storms that impacted the realm on March 21,” Rapport wrote.