Park closed indefinitely as investigation ensues 

An 8-year-old boy is dead and four others injured after a massive oak tree branch unexpectedly snapped and fell on a group of children and adults at a summer camp held at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas.

The tragedy occurred on July 9 around 2:45 p.m. at Camp Wildcraft, which had temporarily relocated to the 500-acre park this summer due to damage from the Palisades Fire. The large branch, estimated to be 25 to 30 feet long, broke off from a towering oak tree and came crashing down on picnic tables where campers had gathered right before parent pick-ups.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that five individuals were injured in the incident. In addition to the young boy, who later died at a hospital, an 11-year-old girl suffered a broken leg and was airlifted from the scene. A 5-year-old boy sustained head lacerations, while two men — ages 22 and 73 — also suffered minor injuries. According to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), which manages the park, “We can confirm that camp staff immediately began rendering aid following the incident, and emergency responders continued life-saving efforts on arrival.”

Witnesses described hearing a loud cracking sound moments before the branch fell, giving those nearby little time to react. First responders from the L.A. County Fire Department rushed to the scene, and the area was immediately securedfor safety.

The entrance to King Gillette Ranch was closed off to the public Wednesday evening as homicide detectives launched an investigation into what officials are calling a devastating accident. A sign at the front gate now reads: “Area Closed Due to Hazardous Conditions.” The park will be closed indefinitely.

While the MRCA is not offering interviews as of July 10, the agency did issue a statement expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy. “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 MRCA said. “The safety and well-being of children and adults in our parks is, and always will be, our highest priority. This is a profoundly difficult time for our entire MRCA community and the parks community of the Santa Monica Mountains,” the MRCA said. “We grieve alongside the family and ask for compassion and privacy as they navigate this loss.”

MRCA officials say they are cooperating fully with investigators and are committed to a thorough and transparent investigation. The agency has not yet commented on The Malibu Times’ queries as to whether the tree had been inspected prior to the start of camp, whether it will conduct its own investigation into the tragedy, and whether it will send arborists to conduct evaluations on all the trees at King Gillette. But MRCA did reply, “Additional details, including safety protocols and inspection processes, will be shared as they become available and appropriate.”

Meanwhile, local residents and parkgoers were left shaken. Some expressed concern about whether the park’s hundreds of trees were assessed before camps were allowed to open on the grounds.

“I did hear that the camp had been moved here,” one neighbor said. “I just hope a proper safety review was done before kids were brought in.”

L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath also released a statement: “My heart is with everyone impacted by this tragic situation. We are actively working to provide all possible support. We hold everyone involved in our thoughts and pray for their safety.

An eerily similar incident occurred in July 2015 adjacent to the Kidspace Children’s Museum in Pasadena. In that incidenta 75-year-old pine tree nearly 70-feet tall suddenly uprooted and struck more than 30 children ages 5-9 who were waiting to be picked up from summer camp. Eight children were injured, two critically.

In 2013 at a summer camp near Yosemite in Groveland California, a 21-year-old counselor was killed in a tree collapse.Four other staff members were injured. No definitive cause was ever determined in the 2015 or 2013 tree events. According to the National Weather Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 30 to 40 people die each year in the United States due to falling trees or tree limbs.

Update Thursday July 10: An 8-year-old boy who was critically injured when a large tree branch fell on a group of park-goers at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas on Wednesday afternoon has died, authorities confirmed. Several others were also injured in the incident.

Original story:

One child is reported in critical condition and at least four others hurt after a large tree branch fell near the entrance to King Gillette Ranch Park along Mulholland Highway and Las Virgenes in the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area. The large limb struck several people around midday on Wednesday, July 9. According to officials with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, multiple individuals required medical assistance, and at least one person was airlifted to UCLA hospital due to serious injuries.

The incident unfolded as the group was apparently enjoying the shade of the tree and having a picnic. Emergency responders — ground units and air ambulances — were dispatched promptly after the massive branch dislodged from a tall, mature tree. Park response teams closed the affected section of Mulholland Highway to secure the area and inspect the health of nearby trees.

Experts note that older trees in the Santa Monica range, especially those weakened by drought, age, or root disturbance, are at heightened risk of dropping limbs. Even with tree maintenance, isolated hazardous branches can still pose unexpected dangers.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department has launched an investigation to determine if natural causes like rot or wind stress or external factors (for instance, recent storms or construction) were at play. Similar branches have fallen in recent years, prompting occasional trail closures and arborist-led interventions.

Cardiac arrest as an apparent cause of death 

One of Quentin Tarantino’s most-cast actors, Michael Madsen, 67, (Reservoir Dogs (1992); Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) was found unresponsive in his Malibu home on the morning of July 3. He was pronounced dead at the home at approximately 8:25 a.m. after being found unresponsive by deputies, according to Commander Christopher Jauregui, Lost Hills Sheriff’s Department Watch Commander. Ron Smith, Madsen’s manager, told press representatives that Madsen apparently succumbed to cardiac arrest. 

Madsen’s other big-screen credits included “Thelma & Louise,” (1991), and “The Doors, (1991). He was also a recognized voice actor, appearing in “Grand Theft Auto III,” and “Crime Boss: Rockay City.” 

Born in Chicago on September 29, 1957 to Elaine, a filmmaker mother who won an Emmy in 1983 for producing the documentary Better Than It Has To Be, a work concerning the history of movie-making in Chicago, and to a firefighter father, Madsen began his acting career at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre training under John Malkovich and appearing in Of Mice and Men. Collaborating with Tarantino in his directorial debut film  on “Reservoir Dogs,” a low-budget crime thriller proved life-changing for both men. 

A prolific actor, Madson also appeared in “Die Another Day,” and “Sin City.” He has 346 acting credits according to IMDb in a career that began in the 1980s.  Madsen’s poetry and photography also garnered acclaim and he has a forthcoming book, Tears For My Father: Outlaw Thoughts and Poems, for which Tarantino’s forward stated, “For me, the real journey that Michael the writer is exploring is what it means to be a man in a world where the notions of manhood that some of us grew up with are barely remembered. But then if everyone embarked on the hero’s journey, everybody would be a hero, wouldn’t they?” Madsen also had a line of hot sauces called American Badass. 

In February 2002, Madsen was arrested in Malibu on a misdemeanor trespassing charge. On August 17, 2024, he was arrested on a battery charge after he reportedly assaulted his wife, DeAnna. He was released on $20,000 bail.  In October 2024, he debunked rumors via Instagram that he was filing for divorce from his wife. 

Madsen is survived by his younger sister, Oscar-nominated actress Virginia Madsen.  He was married three times, first to Georganne LaPiere, singer and actress Cher’s half-sister, and then to Dana Mechling.  Most recently, he was married to DeAnna Madsen.  He is survived by six children, including actors Max and Christian Madsen.  His son Hudson, whom he shared with DeAnna, committed suicide in 2022. 

A tragic accident on Decker Canyon Road in Malibu claimed the life of a 29-year-old woman on Tuesday morning, July 2. 

According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, deputies from the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station responded to a call reporting a traffic collision with possible injuries at approximately 10:20 a.m. in the 4200 block of Decker Canyon Road, just a quarter-mile south of Decker Edison Road.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the woman, identified only as a 29-year-old white female (FW/29), was driving a black/blue 2013 Polaris RGR-800 Crew Side-by-Side ATV southbound on the narrow canyon road when she collided intothe rear bumper of a gray 2016 Mazda 6, also traveling southbound. The driver of the Mazda, a 51-year-old white female (FW/51), was reportedly uninjured, along with her passenger.

Authorities say the impact from the collision caused the ATV to veer off the right shoulder of the roadway and over the cliffside. The off-road vehicle plummeted approximately 350 feet into the ravine below.

Emergency medical personnel responded quickly to the scene but tragically pronounced the ATV driver deceased at the bottom of the canyon.

As of Wednesday morning, officials have not released the identity of the deceased pending notification of next of kin.

Sheriff’s deputies report that there were no immediate signs of intoxication or impairment by either driver. The cause of the collision remains under investigation.

Decker Canyon Road, known for its winding, narrow layout and steep drop-offs, has been the site of multiple serious and fatal accidents over the years. The Sheriff’s Department is urging all motorists to exercise extreme caution when traveling along canyon roads in the Malibu area.

The Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station is asking anyone who may have witnessed the collision or who has any information related to the incident to contact Detective Shean at the Traffic Investigations Office by calling (818) 878-1808. Reference report #25-02752-10.

As of now, no further information is available regarding the victim or additional circumstances surrounding the crash. Updates will be provided as the investigation continues.