Overview
- The collapse occurred around 10:55 a.m. at Marlborough Avenue and Wightman Street, where family tried to free the man before firefighters extricated him; he went into cardiac arrest and died at the scene.
- Relatives identified the victim as Roberto Ruiz; outlets reported differing ages, with the Los Angeles Times citing 64.
- City arborists dismantled the split tree for safety after another portion fell onto a nearby home without causing injuries.
- The City of San Diego said it trimmed the specific tree in January 2024 and has no record of maintenance requests for it, as investigators review ownership and records.
- A Pineapple Express system delivered stronger-than-forecast winds, with gusts up to 61 mph, knocking out power to roughly 10,000–14,000 customers, delaying hundreds of flights, prompting a state of emergency, and keeping shelters open as cleanup continues.