An unimaginable tragedy unfolded last Wednesday at Camp Wildcraft in the Santa Monica Mountains near Calabasas, California, when a massive oak tree branch snapped and fell, killing 8-year-old Lamar McGlothurn and injuring four others.
The incident occurred around 2:50 p.m. at King Gillette Ranch, a scenic public park managed by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA).
According to officials from the Los Angeles County Fire and Sheriff’s Departments, a group of campers — including children and adults — had gathered beneath the large tree to rest in the shade after a hot day. Without warning, the group heard the sound of cracking wood before a 25- to 30-foot-long branch came crashing down on top of them.
Lamar, who had been sitting at a picnic table, was critically injured and transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. On Monday, the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed his identity as Lamar McGlothurn, a resident of Los Angeles.
In addition to Lamar, four other individuals were injured in the freak accident. An 11-year-old girl suffered a broken leg and had to be airlifted from the scene. A 5-year-old boy sustained cuts and a laceration to his head.
A 22-year-old man received abrasions and a bruised arm, while a 73-year-old man was diagnosed with a concussion. Emergency personnel responded swiftly to the chaotic scene, working to stabilize and transport the injured.
Aerial footage captured the broken tree limb sprawled across the shaded area where the group had been resting. The MRCA, which oversees the 588-acre King Gillette Ranch, expressed deep sorrow in a public statement, saying,
“We are devastated by the tragic loss of a young child at a summer camp at King Gillette Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains. Words cannot express the depth of our sorrow. Our hearts are with the child’s family, friends, and all those affected by this unimaginable tragedy.”
The incident has raised urgent questions about tree safety and public land management. While oak trees are common throughout the region and often provide much-needed shade during Southern California’s intense heat, their large limbs can become hazardous, especially if weakened by age, disease, or environmental conditions.
Officials emphasized that the MRCA is working closely with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau, park rangers, and other investigative agencies to understand exactly what caused the branch to fall. “We are committed to conducting a transparent and comprehensive investigation,” the MRCA said.
Camp Wildcraft, the summer program where Lamar was attending, had been temporarily relocated from Pacific Palisades to King Gillette Ranch due to the Palisades Fire, according to multiple reports.
The unforeseen change in venue brought campers to what should have been a serene and safe environment — but instead became the site of a heartbreaking accident. The loss of young Lamar has left a hole in the hearts of his family and the wider community.
