Falling tree injures 12 at college graduation ceremony in Northern California
The incident occurred shortly before 7:00 p.m. near the football field, just as the commencement ceremony was coming to a close.
According to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening, but the incident required a large response.
Emergency crews were already on site as part of the school's standard protocol and were able to quickly attend to the injured.
College officials said that none of the injured individuals were graduating students, as most were around the main stage at the time of the incident.
California's Cherry Crop Faces Uphill Battle Thanks To Roller-coaster Weather Patterns
Out of the approximately 12 people who were injured, officials said only three individuals sought additional treatment at a local hospital.
Diablo Valley College expressed regret over the incident during what was expected to be a celebratory evening.
"The safety of our students, employees and visitors to our campus is our top priority. We deeply regret that this incident occurred during this milestone occasion. We congratulate all of our 2,442 graduates and wish them joyous celebrations with their loved ones this evening," staff at the school stated.
Officials said the cause of the collapse remains under investigation and gave no indications if the tree's age or if weather played a role.
A nearby weather observation site, located outside of Oakland, indicated winds were gusting upwards of 30 mph around the time of the event.
Mapped: What A Barrage Of 56 West Coast Atmospheric River Events Looks Like
Despite the unexpected event, officials said that the graduation ceremony was able to conclude, and school operations were not impacted.
"An evaluation of the circumstances surrounding this incident has begun and will continue in the days to come," school staff stated.Original article source: Falling tree injures 12 at college graduation ceremony in Northern California

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Yahoo
Gordon ISD seniors graduate despite devastating tornado damage
The Brief Gordon High School's senior year was cut short after an EF-1 tornado hit town on May 18, forcing the school to close early for repairs. Despite the abrupt end to the school year, the community organized a proper graduation ceremony for the ten-student senior class. Graduates reflected on the unexpected event, emphasizing the importance of not taking anything for granted after witnessing the widespread damage. GORDON, Texas - The anticipation most high school seniors feel leading to graduation was missed at Gordon High School this year after a destructive tornado caused their campus to close through the end of the school year. Despite the stormy setback, Friday saw the 2025 graduating class of Gordon High School receive their diplomas. What they're saying "We didn't really get to experience our last day of school because our last day we didn't realize was going to be our last day," Hawkins said. Valedictorian Ava Hawkins never expected her senior year would abruptly end after an EF-1 tornado stormed through town on May 18. "Mind-blowing — something that you'd never think would happen to your town until it does," Hawkins said. Superintendent Holly Campbell says that after the tornado, with less than two weeks remaining before the end of the school year, the district chose to close for repairs at its only school, which serves pre-k through 12th graders. The athletic facility was destroyed, the roof damaged, and plastic covered classrooms to prevent water-damage. "Your end of year is where you get to celebrate kids and say your goodbyes.," Campbell said. "We like to have that finality, you know, that stamp at the end of the year." Well, while the last day of school was not the farewell students expected, the community came together for a proper graduation sendoff on Friday evening. Gordon, a city of less than 500 people. The 2025 graduating class is ten students, and nine of them were together inside a local church when the tornado hit that Sunday. "We had no idea it was just maybe 300 yards away from us," said graduate Maddox Stewart. Once the students saw the damage, it revealed perspective. "And I'm grateful that no one in our community was killed because that's… it could have been way worse, and I'm just very grateful," Stewart continued. So, while the end of high school did not go as planned, these seniors say that's okay, as they leave behind a message: "To never take anything for granted, because it can all be gone in an instant." The backstory In part of the Gordon district's underdog story, their baseball team was suddenly unable to practice in the midst of regional playoffs after their facilities were damaged in the storm. With the gracious help of Stephenville High School, 30 miles away from the Gordon Longhorns' Palo Pinto County location, they were able to continue preparing for the end of the season. Due in part to the neighborly help, Gordon won their regional championship game. What's next The team is next set to play in the state semi-finals on May 31. The Source Information in this article comes from Gordon ISD and previous FOX 4 reporting.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Yahoo
Altoona Area High School commencement rescheduled due to weather concerns
ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — Families planning to celebrate graduation in Altoona this weekend will need to adjust their schedules. The 149th Altoona Area High School Commencement has been rescheduled to Saturday, May 31, at 6 p.m. due to predicted inclement weather. Originally scheduled for Friday, the ceremony will now take place at Mansion Park Stadium, with gates opening at 4:30 p.m. The district cited forecasts calling for rain and wind that would make outdoor conditions uncomfortable and potentially unsafe. The district acknowledged that the sudden shift may cause difficulties for some families but emphasized the importance of a positive and smooth ceremony for students and guests. Officials plan to monitor the weather and say any further changes will be announced by noon Saturday. Parking for families and guests will be available in the Amtran Lot next to the Sheetz Training Center, the baseball and Little League outfields, and other nearby designated areas. Accessible parking will be provided at the Sheetz Training Center and in marked areas outside the stadium. Accessible seating will be located on the Home Side track and select areas in the stands. Guests requiring accessible access are encouraged to enter through the scoreboard end zone gate. All other attendees are asked to use general stadium seating. For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be broadcast live by MLTV starting at 3:55 p.m. The event is open to the public, and the district extended its congratulations to the Class of 2025 and their families. More details and updates can be found on the district's official website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Yahoo
Rain delay shifts date for local graduation ceremony
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Tecumseh High School will host its graduation ceremony slightly later than expected. Tecumseh Local Schools announced that the high school graduation ceremony will be on Saturday, May 31 due to expected wet weather. 2 NEWS is showcasing the Class of 2025 from across the Valley! The ceremony was initially scheduled for today, but was pushed back to one of the two available rain dates on the school calendar. 'All times and activities will remain the same, we are simply shifting the date to our rain date. The weather for Saturday looks beautiful and we want to ensure a wonderful time for our Class of 2025, along with their friends and families,' the district said in the post. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.