According to officials in DeKalb County, which owns the Lithonia, Ga., property, the tree had been inspected within the last six months. On January 23, the tree uprooted and fell, hitting Decarlo Allen’s mail truck as he drove past and killing him instantly.
Officials in DeKalb County say a tree at Mystery Valley Golf Club that fell onto a mail truck and killed a postal worker had been checked within the last six months, the Atlanta-based 11Alive reported.
Officials said 36-year-old Decarlo Allen died on January 23 when the tree hit his mail truck. The Lithonia, Ga., property had closed for the day. Allen was delivering the mail when he passed a grove of tall pine trees. One of the trees uprooted and fell toward the road on top of the mail truck, killing Allen instantly. DeKalb County owns the club, 11Alive reported.
“It was an unfortunate, tragic accident that happened due to a variety of events happening at the same time, not the least being ice and wind,” said DeKalb County spokesperson Burke Brennan.
Brennan said trees at the course are regularly inspected. “The last time this tree was checked, it looked fine from the outside,” Brennan said. “Unfortunately, I believe there was some damage on the inside of the tree, but we had no way of knowing that.”
Brennan said the county checks trees at its properties, such as golf courses bi-annually, but they are inspected more often in areas where lots of people congregate, 11Alive reported.
“If it were a playground, a public area, those trees are checked monthly,” he said.
On Monday, an Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspector visited the scene where the accident happened. The county plans to look at the area again as well, 11Alive reported.
“We’re definitely going to go back out there and double-check those trees at that location,” Brennan said.
Brennan said tragedies like the one on Saturday is why they advise residents to watch the news and stay inside when the weather is bad, 11Alive reported.
Family members said Allen worked for the U. S. Postal Service for more than 10 years after graduating from Alonzo Crim High School in 1999. His sister said funeral arrangements are still pending, 11Alive reported.
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