Angela Lin, a 29-year-old software engineer at Google, was killed by a falling tree branch while hiking the Tuolumne Grove trail at Yosemite National Park on July 19. Her boyfriend, David Hua, described the incident as sudden and tragic, with the branch striking Lin on the head and likely causing instant death. Hua reported hearing a loud cracking sound from the giant sequoia trees before the branches fell, leaving Lin unconscious and bleeding on the ground.
The National Park Service has confirmed that an investigation is ongoing, but no further information has been disclosed. Yosemite public affairs officer Scott Gediman released a statement to Fox News Digital, indicating the incident is still under review. Hua expressed frustration with the lack of communication from officials and the absence of details on trail safety and tree maintenance in popular areas. He noted that Lin’s loved ones are seeking information on how to improve trail conditions and awareness of hazardous trees.
Lin, a graduate of UC Berkeley and later the University of Texas, had worked at Google since 2022. A Google spokesperson expressed condolences to Lin’s family, calling her a ‘loved and respected member of our team.’ Despite the tragedy, the incident has sparked discussions about the safety of hiking trails in national parks and the need for better monitoring of potential hazards, such as unstable trees, in visitor areas.