From Hospital Bed, Mom Injured By Fallen Tree Limb In San Francisco Park Speaks Out
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) – In an interview with KPIX 5 from her hospital bed, the woman who was injured when a tree branch fell onto her in a San Francisco park expressed anger about the city's response to the incident.
The city said it has inspected the trees at Washington Square Park and said they are fine. But Cui Ying Zhou is not happy with that answer and worries someone else could get hurt.
"My back and my head feel very painful," Zhou told KPIX 5.
Zhou is still listed in critical condition at San Francisco General Hospital with a broken spine and cracked skull. She was sitting on the park bench watching her two young daughters at the playground at Washington Square before a dental appointment on August 12th.
Suddenly, a large pine branch broke loose and fell squarely on her head.
KPIX 5: "Did you hear anything?"
Zhou: "No, no. I didn't hear anything. It was very quick. Very quick."
She was knocked out cold and regained consciousness in the hospital. Zhou said the doctor has informed her she may end up paralyzed from the waist down.
"I can't move," Zhou said. "I just lay down in the bed."
Zhou and husband Jian Cong Tan are originally from China. Tan sells computer parts, while Zhou is a full time Mom. They are preparing for the possibility she could be in the hospital for a very long time.
Family members have set up a GoFundMe account to help with bills.
Tan said the only call he has received from the city is from the Parks Department, and it was about the tree.
"They called me and said the tree is healthy and nothing wrong with the tree. Why is it breaking off when they say the tree is healthy?" Tan said.
When asked about the city's assessment of the tree, Zhou said, "It's not okay. No! I don't want anybody hurt like me, you know? They should do something."