Falling Tree Limb Kills Two Children in Yosemite

Two children camping in Yosemite were killed early Friday morning when a falling limb from an oak tree fell on the tent where they were sleeping, the National Park Service announced Friday.

The minors were camping with their families in Yosemite Valley's popular Upper Pines Campground. Park rangers responded to provide medical assistance but found both children dead.

"Our thoughts are with the families as they grieve this tragedy," Yosemite Superintendent Don Neubacher said.

The park service is not releasing the names, ages or places of residence of the victims while the incident is being investigated. Officials will be examining the scene and assessing things like wind and weather conditions that may have affected the tree.

"This is of course a horrible tragedy, but right now there's nothing standing out about why this particular limb fell," said park spokesman Scott Gediman. "Yosemite is a wild place and for tree limbs to fall is a common occurrence."

Yosemite also announced today that Tuolumne Meadows campground will be closed next week while rodent burrows are treated for fleas. Several dead animals at the campground recently tested positive for the plague, which can be transmitted by fleas. Last week, state health officials announced that a child who had recently visited the park was hospitalized after coming down with the plague.