Mother of 2 killed by falling tree in Chilliwack, B.C., park amid gale-force winds

A Chilliwack, B.C., overprotect was killed by a falling shoetree piece visiting a local mungo park with her kids mon afternoon, police say.

Officers were called to Island 22 Regional Park, just north of Chilliwack's downtown core, at around 3 p.m. PT, according to Sgt. Alexandra Greenley with the RCMP's Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment.

Police say the 27-year-old Chilliwack woman was with her two young children at the time. Two people who were nearby called 911 and attempted to help before emergency crews arrived.

The children were not physically injured and are now with family, RCMP said Monday.

Police say there is no indication the incident was anything other than a tragic and unforeseen event that occurred during severe and unpredictable weather.

A strong weather system moved through southwestern B.C. Monday, bringing powerful wind gusts to the Fraser Valley.

Environment Canada meteorologist Brian Proctor said winds were particularly strong in the region in the afternoon.

“A really vigorous frontal system passed through the lower Fraser Valley,” Proctor said. 

Gusts recorded in Chilliwack Monday afternoon reached a speed of 66 km/h, he said, classified on the Beaufort scale as gale-force winds.

He said the strongest gust recorded was in Hope, where winds reached 107 km/h.

The storm also downed power for thousands of people across the region.

B.C. Hydro says outages peaked Monday, with more than 90,000 customers without service at one point, particularly in Squamish, Duncan and Hope, which were among the hardest hit areas.

Proctor said another frontal system is expected to move through the region later Tuesday, with winds forecast to reach 70 to 80 km/h in parts of the Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver.

Strong winds can cause trees and branches to knock down power lines. If you see a fallen, damaged or low hanging power line or pole, it's an emergency. Stay back at least 10 metres and dial 9-1-1: <a href="https://t.co/xcy2NbCaAq">https://t.co/xcy2NbCaAq</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCStorm?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCStorm</a> <a href="https://t.co/US2WU3hCh5">pic.twitter.com/US2WU3hCh5</a>

Darren Clarke, a local resident who frequents Island 22 Regional Park to walk his dogs, said he saw police blocking off access in the afternoon.

“We saw about 12 officers there and a tree down, and we were asked to leave the park,” he said.

Clarke described the mood in the area as sombre.

“When you hear about a tragedy like this, it's always so sad,” he said. “And this time of year, so close to Christmas, I just feel for the family. It's a tough one."

The park remains closed to the public Tuesday.

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