Woman Killed by Fallen Tree During Boy Scouts Hiking Trip in Cupertino [Rancho San Antonio]

NBC Bay Area ^ | March 5, 2023 | Stephanie Guzman and John Zuchelli

[nickcarraway]

The Boy Scouts of America said Sunday evening that the victim was a parent of a scout and was participating in a planned hike.

A woman was killed when she was hit by a falling tree during a hiking trip with the Boys Scouts in Cupertino Sunday morning, officials said.

The incident happened just after 10 a.m. on a trail at the Rancho San Antonio County Park. Officials said they received calls for a woman who was trapped under a tree.

The Santa Clara County Fire Department said on Twitter that the victim was declared dead after medical aid was rendered.

The Boys Scouts that the victim was a parent of a scout. They added the mother was participating in a planned hike and those she was with were trying to lift the tree off the woman.

Eric Tarbox, Scout executive/CEO, Silicon Valley Monterey Bay Council of Boy Scouts of America released the following statement Sunday evening:

"We are saddened to confirm one adult accidental fatality involving a tree. The deceased is the parent of a Scout and they were participating in a planned hike at the Rancho San Antonio Park. Rangers and EMS were summoned to the scene. We will continue to cooperate with investigating authorities.

All Scouts are safe and there were no additional injuries. Our emergency response protocols and notifications are currently being followed and we appreciate privacy for the family and Scout unit as they are still being moved from the area and rejoined with their families."

[9YearLurker]

Take someone else’s daddy along and...

[maddog55]

Boy Scouts.. California. I’m sure it was anything but.

[Zathras]

Been there many times.
Shocking.

[Tudorfly]

Terrible writing of the headline and story. It is difficult to be killed by a “fallen tree,” as it is simply lying there, already down and inert.

[dljordan]

So from the title the tree had fallen and then killed her. That IS amazing.

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Geez, we had mom Assistant Scoutmasters and uniformed mom Committee Members in our Troop and Council 50 YEARS ago!

It has nothing to do with the changes made to the BSA programs of late.

[FatherofFive]

Sick…. Imagine mommies going on Boy Scout hikes. That’s there east to teach em to be men. /s

I had a Cub Scout pack in Jacksonville 30 years ago. Took it from 22 to 85 scouts in 2 years. I had to have 'the talk' with adult leaders - no homosexuals allowed. No leader could be with a single scout (except his/her child) at any time. Two deep leadership in every den. Today, I would be the one kicked out. I am so done with Scouting.

[dfwgator]

It’s turned into “Scouting for Boys”.

[SamAdams76]

When I participated in scouting in the 1970s, it was all male on the camping trips and other activities. Though I do remember some mothers taking their sons to the meetings. That's a little different because in many cases the father was still working when the meetings began. This was more for Cub Scouts than Boy Scouts. In Cub Scouts, we even had Den mothers.

When I had my own sons in scouting however, late 1990s to mid 2000s, there were far more moms involved than dads. I'm talking on the camping trips as well. I believe this was due to lack of volunteers (from the fathers).

As well, Boy Scout camping was much different for my sons, likely due to all the mothers involved. No pocket knives were allowed. Only adults could start or tend campfires. No archery. Definitely no target shooting. All mainstays of my camping experience.