Walnut Creek: One dead, one hurt after tree hits vehicle

WALNUT CREEK — A vehicle passenger died and a driver was injured after a tree fall Tuesday in the city’s Rossmoor retirement community, authorities said.

While responding to multiple weather-related incidents, 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. Their identity was not available, pending next-of-kin notification from the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office coroner’s division.

The vehicle’s driver suffered minor injuries, and their status and condition was not immediately available Tuesday night.

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.