A 29-year-old Google software engineer tragically lost her life at Yosemite National Park earlier this month when a tree branch fell and hit her on the head as she walked along a well-known trail.
Angela Lin was hiking through Tuolumne Grove on July 19 when the giant sequoias around her began to crack loudly, as described by her boyfriend, David Hua, to SFGate, the first outlet to report on the incident.
“In just a few seconds, branches came tumbling from above,” Hua stated. “Angela was struck by a large branch, with a series of smaller ones falling right near me.”
Hua recounted finding Lin on the ground with blood surrounding her head, prompting him to call 911 and perform CPR until emergency help arrived. Paramedics later suggested the branch might have killed Lin instantly.
Expressing frustration, Hua mentioned a lack of communication from authorities, as Lin’s family and friends seek details about trail safety, maintenance, and potential hazards from trees on these popular routes.
A welcome sign is seen at the Yosemite National Park in California on Dec. 13, 2023. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Lin completed her undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley before pursuing a master’s and Ph.D. at the University of Texas. She became part of the Google team in 2022.
“We lost a loved and respected member of our team,” a Google spokesperson told FOX2 San Francisco. “We’re very saddened by this tragedy, and our hearts are with their family and loved ones.”
