Mother Recalls Coming to, Trapped Beneath a Fallen Tree at LA Zoo

A family's first visit to the Los Angeles Zoo had been a great day, a mother and her oldest child recalled -- until a tree fell down on top of the mother, briefly knocking her unconscious and sending her to the hospital.

Now recovering at home in Huntington Park, Maria Rosalia Martinez said when she came to, the yelling of her three children alerted her that something had happened. She did not recall the tree falling.

 "I only remember their screaming," said Martinez. "I don't remember anything else."

She realized she was covered with tree branches, that she could not move her arms or legs, and was struggling to breathe.

"I wanted to cry, but I realized if I cried my brothers were going to continue crying and be panicked," said daughter Shairy Chavez-Martinez, 17, a high school senior.  "So I had to hold my tears and call the cops and just do what an adult what do." 

They later learned their mother had a fractured rib, though for long minutes until paramedics assessed her they worried the injuries might be worse. 

On Tuesday, Maria's husband had to work, but she had a day off, and with the teachers strike then still underway affecting her three children's schools, she decided to take them to the zoo.

They enjoyed marvelling at the animals, and were wrapping up their visit and heading toward the exit when Shairy suggested they stop for ice cream and relax at a table, they said.

Moments later, the pine tree came down.

Aaron, 12, saw it coming and yelled, Shairy said, but their mother did not have time to react.  

Three others, including Jacob, 11, suffered less serious injuries that were treated by paramedics and did not require hospitalization.

The tree fall was one of more than a dozen reported in the Los Angeles area during a 24 hour period marked by a windstorm on the heels of five days of rain.  The Zoo believes that was a factor in the tree's falling, according to a statement issued.

Neither of the Martinez parents has health insurance through their restaurant jobs. They are concerned both about the medical bills, and Maria's loss of income while she is injured and cannot work.

Shairy Martinez, 17, said it is the family's hope the Zoo will cover her mother's medical expenses, but they have not yet discussed the matter with Zoo officials.

"If they contact us we will give them all of the information they need to seek financial reimbursement," stated an email response to NBC4 from April Spurlock, Communications Director for the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

The area was cleared of tree debris and reopened to Zoo visitors.