Documents obtained by
Metro News revealed that a tree in Toronto's Trinity Bellwoods Park that was involved in a fatal accident was previously classified as a potential hazard nearly two years ago. The documents detailed the results of an audit of the park’s trees following a 2013 ice storm.
On the evening of June 17, a Toronto man and his pregnant wife were resting beneath said tree when a bough broke off and fell. The man leaped to protect his wife from the branch when it fell and hit him; he succumbed to his injuries not long after.
According to the audit documents, the tree—a Siberian elm—was labeled at risk for disease or decay if left untreated. The papers also warned that 97 other trees in the park had “more serious defects,” such as cracked limbs and dead wood, which need to be dealt with as soon as possible.
It is unknown if this discovery pins liability for the accident on Toronto, forcing the city’s municipal insurance to cover for the wrongful death.
There is no evidence that the issue previously identified with the elm tree led to the fatal branch fall, noted Toronto parks and recreation department spokesman Matthew Cutler.
An inspection held after the accident found that the tree did not have any signs of rot or disease. Cutler also added that city staff has been “systematically” inspecting all trees at Trinity Bellwoods since the incident.
Cutler said that most of the trees have been treated through Toronto’s emerald ash borer program. He also revealed that the city is already making plans to better care for the trees.
Currently, the park’s trees are trimmed at least once every 15 years; the new plan is to shorten that period to every seven years. Originally set to be implemented this year, it was pushed to 2023 due to budget pressures, the ice storm, and the ash borer issue.
Related Stories:
Looking for your next big client? Try a whole city
Sinkhole suit underlines municipal exposures
