1 woman released, 2 remain hospitalized after tree falls on car in Orange

Police stand outside 24 Maple St. in Orange on Friday afternoon after a tree fell on a car, injuring three women who were inside.

Police stand outside 24 Maple St. in Orange on Friday afternoon after a tree fell on a car, injuring three women who were inside. STAFF PHOTO/ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

Staff Writer

Published: 08-12-2024 5:06 PM

ORANGE — One of the three women hospitalized after being struck by a fallen tree Friday has been released from Athol Hospital, while another is stable and the third is in critical condition, Northwestern District Attorney’s Office spokesperson Laurie Loisel confirmed Monday.

According to Orange Police Chief James Sullivan, one of the three women sustained “significant life-threatening injuries.” The women were seated in a car that was parked outside 24 Maple St. at approximately 4 p.m. on Friday afternoon when a tree, which Sullivan said was “planned to be taken down,” fell on the back of the vehicle, injuring the women inside.

All three women were transported to Athol Hospital with varying degrees of injuries. Sullivan said two of the three women were unresponsive, one of whom later regained consciousness, when Orange Police and Fire arrived on Maple Street.

“The tree had been pulled off by other people in the house before” police got there, Sullivan said when reached by phone on Friday. “One woman, who has a little girl, has significant life-threatening injuries.”

According to a written statement released by the Orange Fire Department, medical helicopters were requested, but were grounded because of high winds.

At 5:45 p.m. on Friday, Sullivan said the Massachusetts State Police Investigative Unit was on its way to Orange.

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.

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