WALNUT CREEK — A vehicle passenger died and a driver was injured after a tree fell Tuesday in the city’s Rossmoor retirement community, authorities said.
While responding to multiple weather-related incidents during Tuesday’s major storm, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District firefighters learned of a large tree fall that struck a vehicle traveling in the 1000 block of Stanley Dollar Drive just after 7 p.m.
When firefighters arrived, they found a tree atop a vehicle with the occupants still inside. The vehicle’s passenger was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities early Wednesday identified him as 79-year-old Thomas Huster, of Walnut Creek.
The vehicle’s driver suffered minor injuries.
Although some first responders cleared the scene by 8:50 p.m., a fire-district social-media post urged residents to avoid the area, saying it would remain closed.
Con Fire is clearing the scene of vehicle accident in Rossmoor. A large tree fell onto a car while traveling on Stanley Dollar. The driver sustained minor injuries and the passenger died in the accident. Please avoid the area, the roadway is still blocked will remain closed. pic.twitter.com/DReceZDZ9x
— Con Fire PIO (@ContraCostaFire) March 22, 2023
Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.