One dead after tree falls at Halloween event in Pierce County

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office says one person has died and several others are injured after a large tree fell on multiple booths at a trick-or-treat Halloween event at McKenna Park Saturday.

Deputies were dispatched at around 1 p.m., where as many as seven people were found trapped underneath the tree.

Three of them were taken to the hospital.

A man in his 30s was confirmed dead and multiple people were injured, ranging from severe to minor injuries, PCSO said.

Jazzmyn Soldonia was with her 12-year-old niece when she heard the noise.

“There was a gust of wind, then we heard what sounded like thunder.” Soldonia said, “I was trying to stay calm for my niece, trying to get kids into a safe place and get the kids separated because we heard they had found somebody.”

Soldonia says she tried to look for people pinned under the tree.

“I’m hurting.  I have some good scrapes, cuts and bruises. I am very overwhelmed. I want to go home and hug my babies,” she said.

Savannah Davitt says she heard one branch come down, then heard the crack as the whole tree fell.

One branch crushed her booth moments after she stepped outside for the first time for the day.

The tree smashed the booth right next to her.

“Other people weren’t so lucky today and it’s crazy to think that could have been me,” Davitt said.