A live oak tree that fell onto a power line on Golf Course Road in Tilden Sunday prompted a power outage across the park and caused a crash that sent a cyclist to the hospital.
The tree toppled from 50 feet up a cliff onto Golf Course Road, around 200 yards south of the entrance to the golf course, at around 11 a.m., according to Carolyn Jones, spokeswoman for the East Bay Regional Park District.
The tree fell onto a power line which in turn knocked down a power pole. A cyclist on the road collided with the power line. Jones said she understood the cyclist was unable to stop in time. He was taken away by ambulance but, according to park staff, seemed to be OK, Jones said.
The incident caused power to go out at the Tilden Golf Course, the park’s corporation yard and at the facilities serving the Tilden Steam Train.
Golf Course Road was closed to through-traffic from the intersection with Grizzly Peak Boulevard until 2 a.m. Monday, by which time the tree had been removed and the power line had been repaired, according to Jones.
Jones said park staff predict more live oak trees will likely fall over coming weeks as a result of either a lack of water due to the ongoing California drought, or Sudden Oak Death.
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