Tourists Tree'd in Central Park

Two Australian tourists got very up-close-and-personal with Central Park nature yesterday when a tree fell and its branches knocked them down. WCBS 880 reports that Melanie Ciancio and Brooke Spagnolo, who were getting their portraits drawn, "weren't seriously hurt"; one told NY1, "Suddenly we hear this crackling noise and then we were just on the floor and hit to the ground and the branches were on top of us and we crawled out and it was really surreal and weird, just really shook us up." They were in town for Ciancio's 30th birthday and "were impressed at how quickly passers by and EMS officials arrived to help." The park's department thinks wet soil contributed to the tree's fall.

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By Jen Chung in News on December 29, 2008 9:52 AM

Comments [rss]

snoopydog

It's about time the city does something about this. First cranes and now trees. How about cutting down those stupid leave spewing things and give back the city to the people? The city was a lot safer without those stupid trees. Plus they shed leaves which make bikers skid and bruise their knees.

NannyState

Trees happen.

Legalist

http://www.americanscientist.org/issues/feature/the-kindness-of-strangers/1

mx0

"Tree'd" ?

What does the apostrophe stand for?

JRod5417

They're lucky it was just some branches that fell on them.

ed_Extinct

This happened to me and some friends last year upstate. we were walking on a trail and were about 10 feet from the crash zone when we heard a huge loud cracking noise. A branch with some massive thickness came crashing down and we all looked at each other in amazement. Final destination?

snoopydog

I believe gravity is at fault here. Someone should do something about that problem. But noooooooooooo! The Parks Department says it doesn't have enough funds to do something about gravity. They can hire more of those morons that think they are protecting squirrels, but when it comes to a serious problem they just shrug their shoulders and cry, "We need more money."

jchez

"(they) were impressed at how quickly passers by and EMS officials arrived to help."

Am I to understand that in Australia, passers by would have taken their time before helping? Or, did they believe the stereotype of the uncaring New Yorker who would laugh at them or rob their pockets while they laid under the tree?

hels

I believe you should visit Australia before you comment.

And if your comments are anything to go by I can understand why people sterotype Americans.

If they were americans the would have sued by noe

Steven

Probably though the mentally how in NYC you are all by yourself and New Yorkers are always in a hurry to worry about helping other people out. Blame TV and movies.