Tree that crushed woman was on removal list
The tree that killed a 65-year-old woman when it fell and crushed her car in Bond Hill on Sunday had been marked for demolition by the City of Cincinnati nine months ago, but only as a preventative measure, according to information released by the city.
And that meant the removal wouldn't happen immediately.
Cincinnati City Manager Harry Black has ordered an investigation to determine if the city can do anything to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
"Jacqueline Carr's death is an unthinkable tragedy," Black said. "The City's thoughts are with Jacqueline's loved ones. We send our condolences and prayers to her family during this difficult time."
Carr was a music teacher for Cincinnati Public Schools for 30 years, where she taught in high schools and elementary schools throughout the district. She retired from Taft High School in 2001.
Annetta Daniels and her family have lived across the street from Jacqueline Carr on Avonlea Avenue in Bond Hill for two years.
The accident happened less than a quarter mile from Jacqueline Carr's house, just around the corner.
"She almost made it home," Daniels said.
Daniels said Jacqueline Carr was "really vibrant," often taking walks up and down the streets.
"Everyday she'd come in around the same time and wave ... or say hi," Daniels said. "She would talk to my daughter and ask her about school. She was just a really nice lady."
Black shared city data related to the 60-year-old Pin Oak at 4805 Reading Road.
It was part of the City's Urban Forestry tree maintenance program and was last inspected in July 2014.
An inspector found the tree "to be in decline," but did not think it warranted immediate removal and so it was placed on the preventative removal list, not the immediate removal list.
Among the problems:
• The trunk and roots of the tree had no visible evidence of damage or illness.
•The canopy showed minor dead wood, leading to it to be included on the preventative removal list.
Factors contributing to the tree's collapse include saturated soil due to the recent rainy conditions and a compromised root system caused by subterranean root decay, otherwise known as "root rot."
"Unfortunately in this case there was no visible above ground evidence that the tree suffered from root decay," said city spokesman Rocky Merz.
Carr was killed when the tree fell on top of her Chevrolet Impala as she was driving north on Reading Road around 3:40 p.m., according to Cincinnati police.
Leonard Washington, of Price Hill, saw Carr driving moments before the tree fell, and rushed to her aid.
"It took her front seat and peeled it all the way to the back," Washington said.
Carr was talking and moving her face, he said.
When officials reached the scene Carr was dead, according to Cincinnati Police Department Lt. Dennis Swingley.
"I want to offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jacqueline Carr," Mayor John Cranley said. "The terrible accident that occurred shakes us all. We will do everything we can to get answers in a timely manner."