Falling tree lands on campers sheltering in truck during storm, NE officials say

A tree fell on top of a pickup truck at a Nebraska state park amid severe weather, killing a woman and seriously injuring a man, officials say.

Firefighters responded to Two Rivers State Recreation Area at about 7 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, where a cottonwood tree had fallen and crushed a vehicle with two people inside, the Waterloo Volunteer Fire Department said in a news release.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, they found one of the occupants, a woman, was already dead, and a man was pinned by the tree, the department said.

The man was “conscious and alert but critically injured,” fire officials told the Omaha World-Herald.

Firefighters believe the man and woman were camping, but as a storm rolled in they left their tent and took shelter in the truck, WOWT reported.

“The extraction process was complex and challenging due to the size and weight of the cottonwood tree,” the department said, adding that it took 90 minutes to rescue the wounded man from the vehicle. Once pulled from the wreckage, he was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries.

“Our hearts are filled with sadness with news that, in addition to extensive damage throughout Nebraska and several serious injuries, at least one person tragically died when the storm hit Two Rivers State Recreation Area,” Gov. Jim Pillen said in a post on X. “Suzanne and I extend our deepest sympathies to the victim’s family, and our gratitude to the first responders who are working across the state to help and protect our people. Please lift them all up in prayer.”

Two Rivers State Recreation Area is a roughly 30-mile drive west from Omaha.