UNC says students are safe from trees

UNC groundskeepers have assured the campus community that falling timber poses no threat to its students and streets.

The falling of an oak tree outside Mitchell Hall on Monday afternoon was a remote occurrence caused by the tree’s age, saturated soil and rotted roots, said University Forest Manager Tom Bythell.

The tree, which injured two people and blocked a lane of traffic on South Columbia Street for about an hour, was uprooted and fell over when its rotten roots cracked.

In addition to the roots, Bythell said the tree fell because it was growing at an angle and had a full canopy of green leaves, making it more top-heavy.

Amber Hathcock, a graduate student in the Gillings School of Global Public Health, was taken to UNC Hospitals after the tree fell on her. Hathcock has since been discharged from the hospital.

Bythell said he estimated the tree to be between 90 and 100 years old.

“Old trees don’t heal as fast as younger trees” Bythell said. “This tree was in the second half of its life.”

Bythell said trees on campus rarely fall because of rotting roots. He said thunderstorms or hurricanes are typically responsible for falling trees. The tree would have fallen earlier, he said, if there had been inclement weather.

“The tree probably would have come down in August if we had had a large thunderstorm,” Bythell said.

A 60-foot pine tree fell in September 2008 due to tropical storm winds.

Bythell said the grounds crew inspects each tree on campus at least once a year. During the inspection, they determine whether a tree’s limbs or the tree itself are in danger of falling or causing damage. The crew went out Wednesday to inspect roots in McCorkle Place. Dangerous trees or limbs are removed by the grounds crew.

“We have our crew and the public telling us about the trees” Bythell said. “We have 100 eyes out there.”

Bythell said the tree that fell Monday appeared to have a healthy trunk and canopy when it was inspected in early October. He said they could not detect the rotting roots, which are especially difficult to recognize in large trees.

UNC Director of Grounds Services Kirk Pelland said students should not be concerned of trees falling on them as they walk through campus.

“We certainly don’t want our students being afraid of our trees,” Pelland said.

Bythell said clean-up crews are prepared for trees falling if there is a threat of bad weather. He said the grounds crew quickly responded when the tree fell Monday, removing the debris and unblocking the street within an hour.

“I’m really proud of my guys” Bythell said.

University Landscape Architect Jill Coleman said that they are planning on replacing the tree.

“We always replace trees” Coleman said. “Depending on the site we may even go ahead and plant two trees to replace the lost canopy.”



Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.